Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has opened up on his careful plan to protect Reece James from further injury setbacks by redefining his role on the pitch. Speaking on the club captain’s fitness, Maresca explained that using James in midfield is a deliberate strategy aimed at reducing physical strain while keeping him influential.
As previously reported by SoftFootball, the Chelsea manager believes James’ growing leadership has gone hand in hand with smarter load management rather than raw physical demands.
James’ injury history has been well documented, with 15 separate setbacks across the past five seasons. Maresca’s solution has been to move him away from the traditional fullback role, which demands repeated long sprints.
According to James’ recent performances, the Chelsea captain has looked sharper and more composed when deployed centrally, allowing him to control games without pushing his body to breaking point.
Maresca was clear about the thinking behind the switch. He stressed that playing in midfield helps James avoid explosive runs that could trigger muscle issues in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Enzo Maresca: We are helping Reece James in terms of keeping him fit, and playing as midfielder… it helps.
We want to avoid him doing big sprints and long sprints that could probably cause him some problems.
By operating in central areas, James focuses more on positioning, passing and game intelligence rather than constant recovery sprints down the flank. This has allowed Chelsea to benefit from his technical quality while protecting his fitness.
The idea is not new. Maresca revealed that he saw James as a midfielder from the very start of his Chelsea tenure. Shortly after taking the job in June 2024, he sent the defender a video during his holiday to explain how he could thrive in a central role.
That vision became more concrete during the Conference League, when James impressed against Copenhagen in March 2025, even scoring from long range in a controlled midfield display.
Beyond the tactical benefits, Maresca has highlighted James’ growth as a leader. Once questioned for his availability, the England international has become a steady presence on and off the pitch.
His calm authority and communication have stood out, especially during big moments, including his eye-catching free kick against Newcastle and his nomination for Premier League Player of the Matchweek.
Chelsea remain cautious, with Maresca admitting James cannot yet play every three days. Medical staff monitor him closely to avoid setbacks. Still, the results are encouraging. As of December 2025, James has not missed a game through injury this season, marking a rare and promising period of consistency for both player and club.
