“I think he’s got everything, he treats United players like boys” – Rio Ferdinand picks Chelsea player as young player of the year
Reece James of Chelsea has been named the Premier League Young Player of the Season by Rio Ferdinand. While discussing why he chose the Englishman, the Manchester United great highlighted the defender’s importance in the starting XI.
This season, Reece has been an important part of Chelsea’s starting XI, but he has missed a few games due to injury. In 34 games, he has scored six goals and assisted on seven others despite missing 19 games.
Ferdinand gushed about the Chelsea kid on his Vibe with Five podcast. He praised himself for his performance at Old Trafford, saying:
“I’m going to go Reece James [for Premier League young player of the season]. I just think the importance that he has in this team, when he doesn’t play in that team now they miss him massively. He has a massive impact in that team.
I watched him at Old Trafford the other day… he was treating some Man United players like boys. That’s how good he is, how comfortable he looks now. I’ve seen him on loan at Wigan playing centre-back, playing in midfield.
He’s so versatile. His passing range is off the charts. Just his all-round general play, the composure, the physicality, his defending one-v-one. I think he’s got everything.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel has also been full of praise for Reece James and claimed he wanted two of him in the starting XI.
“I would love to have two of Reece James, that would solve the problem, it’s like 55% towards wing-back and 45% towards the back three. It depends a little bit on how the opponent plays against us. Do we expect a lot of possession, how is their structure for their offensive transition.
For this it can sometimes be helpful for Reece to play in the back three and be the first guy to cover in the transition and to not be involved in the attack. We have his speed and physicality in the protection of the opponents counter-attack.”