Chelsea captain Reece James has defended head coach Enzo Maresca, insisting that the team has made significant progress under his leadership despite growing criticism from sections of the club’s supporters.
After being appointed as Chelsea’s manager from Championship-winning Leicester City last summer, Maresca faced early struggles during pre-season.
However, a strong start to the Premier League campaign helped alleviate initial doubts. At one point, Chelsea even flirted with an early title challenge, but their form took a sharp downturn after the turn of the year, leading to inconsistent performances and frustrating results.
This decline has fueled skepticism among fans, many of whom remain unconvinced by Maresca’s progress. Nevertheless, Chelsea remains in the hunt for a top-five finish and Europa Conference League success, which could help validate the Italian’s project.
James, who has recently returned to action as a midfielder following another injury-plagued season, is optimistic about Chelsea’s direction. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, he emphasized the team’s development.
“Our objective is to play Champions League football next year,” James stated. “I think there’s still more to come from us, it’s early days. We’ve learnt a lot this season and are still learning. We have come on leaps and bounds this year, fighting against the best teams in the league on a consistent basis.”
James also highlighted the squad’s balance and Maresca’s influence on the team. “The balance of the team is key, having different players for different roles. Everyone complements each other well, and that helps with where we are so far. Hopefully, our performances reflect how far we have come,” he added.
“The way the head coach is with the team, the way he wants us to play and how passionate he is makes it enjoyable. Our idea and focus stay the same no matter who we are playing against.”
With a top-five finish potentially securing Champions League qualification and the prospect of winning the Europa Conference League, Maresca still has an opportunity to cap his debut season with tangible success.
Meanwhile, James, who recently rejoined the England squad under former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, will be hoping to stay fit for the remainder of the season to help lead Chelsea’s push for European football.
