Mauricio Pochettino says £250k-a-week player is ‘very important’ for Chelsea

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Mauricio Pochettino has singled Reece James out as a “very important” player for Chelsea.

If you’ve watched Chelsea closely in the last few years, you’ll know Reece James is fundamental to the Chelsea line-up. In fact, the Blues look completely different when he’s starting on the right side of defence.

The 23-year-old is so effective as a right-back or right wing-back for the Blues. Incidentally, Chelsea’s new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, prefers a back four, so we expect to see much more of James as a conventional full-back.

Pochettino has agreed with the general consensus among Chelsea fans that James is pivotal to the Blues squad.

The England international was late joining up with the pre-season tour of the United States due to illness, but he’s been training with the group ahead of this week’s friendly match against Newcastle United.

When asked if it’s good to have James back with the group, Pochettino said (Football.London): “Yes, of course. He is a very important player for us and it’s important to have player like him back.”

James will be praying for an injury-free season in the upcoming campaign to allow him to show his best form.

The £250,000-a-week star (Spotrac) offers so much to the Chelsea side as both an attacking and defensive threat, which should be music to the ears of a manager in Pochettino that historically relies on his full-backs a lot.

It’s an added bonus that James has genuine competition and cover this campaign in 20-year-old Malo Gusto, who’s started pre-season sharply.

James has claimed, as quoted by Football London, he would like to become the Chelsea captain following Cesar Azpilicueta’s departure. In our view, he could thrive off the added pressure.