“Drop him” – Jamie Carragher blasts Reece James for what he did to Enzo Maresca after 2-1 win over Newcastle
After Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca questioned Reece James’ leadership earlier this week, Jamie Carragher became the next to do so.
The Blues captain, who is regarded as one of the team’s most important players, missed the beginning of the new season due to injury but made a comeback last weekend.
But during a news conference this week, Maresca spoke some brutally honest things about the 24-year-old. When the Italian claimed he ‘anticipated more’ from James in terms of leadership within the dressing room, some people took notice.
“I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” Maresca explained. “He’s on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing but I expect more.
“Most of the time, a player thinks that ‘because I am captain I expect that you [the manager] give me more’. No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest. I expect it from Reece and his team-mates expect it from him to give always more in terms of leadership.”
During Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday, Carragher appeared to endorse Maresca’s comments while analysing the role the defender played in the visitors’ equalising goal, which was plundered by Alexander Isak.
Carragher said: “Just look at him here with Isak. I mean, OK, you lose him – either run back or scream at someone that they’ve got to pick him up. He just lets him go, and I go back to what the manager said before the game; he wants more from him as a leader.
“That’s what I’m talking about. You’ve either got to do your job and run back or if you lose him, speak to your mate there and pass on some information.”
Carragher’s Sky Sports colleague, Theo Walcott, agreed with the former Liverpool defender’s verdict. He added: “It’s like players now want to stick to their positions, left-back, I’ll stay here, I’ll pass on responsibility. Exactly what you said there with Reece James.”
Isak’s goal had cancelled out Nicolas Jackson’s early opener, though the Blues hit the front again early in the second half through Cole Palmer, whose clinical strike proved decisive.