Tuchel finally found Chelsea’s next Eden Hazard after Leicester draw
On Thursday night, Reece James tied a record set by former Blues winger Eden Hazard with his eighth assist of the Premier League season.
In their penultimate home game of the Premier League season, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Leicester City on Thursday night. James Maddison opened the goal before Marcos Alonso equalized before halftime, volleying home James’ cross. The England international now has eight assists in the English Premier League this season, matching Hazard’s record from nine years ago.
Due to the Blues’ substantially stronger goal difference over Tottenham in the league table, Thomas Tuchel’s team sealed their third-place finish with a draw against the Foxes, having earned Champions League status for next season after results went their way last week. With Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen’s contracts set to expire at the conclusion of the season, James will be a part of a new defensive unit next season.
James’ assist for Alonso’s equalizer made it eight Premier League assists for the Chelsea academy product, the highest by a player aged 22 or younger in a single season for the Blues since Hazard in 2012/13. With 13 goals and assists, the England international is tied for second in the division with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson (12) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (14).
This season, James has demonstrated that he can consistently play at the highest level, and he continues to be a fantastic outlet for the Blues, picking up cunning positions when roaming forward to make the difference with his distribution or finishing skills. England has a plethora of excellent right-backs, with James competing with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker for a starting berth in Gareth Southgate’s side.
The 22-year-old has demonstrated throughout the season that he can have an impact on games on both ends of the field, with the stamina to run up and down the right flank to defend and attack.
Tuchel will have to rebuild his defense this summer, but with James on the right flank and Ben Chilwell set to return on the left next season, the German manager can concentrate on reinforcing the heart of the defense, knowing that he has talent at both wing-back positions for years to come.