Mauricio Pochettino says he’s been very impressed by 23-year-old Chelsea player in pre-season

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Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that newly-appointed Chelsea captain Reece James really impressed him in pre-season.

The Blues confirmed this week that Reece James, 23, is the new permanent club captain.

Pochettino has now overseen his first pre-season schedule as the Chelsea head coach, with their new Premier League campaign kicking off against Liverpool this Sunday.

READ: Chelsea vs Liverpool: How to Watch, TV Channel UK, Team News and More

It certainly looks like James has emerged as a key individual at the club over the summer.

Pochettino has shared that the “attitude and dedication” of James really caught the eye during Chelsea’s pre-season.

“This is a decision taken by me and the club. We are very pleased Reece will captain the side this season,” Pochettino said, as quoted by the club’s official website.

“He leads by example and his attitude and dedication to Chelsea has been clear throughout pre-season. He proudly wore the armband during our summer tour and will take up the challenge of leading our squad with his own approach and ideas.”

Let’s hope James can carry this momentum into the new 2023/24 season.

When fit, Chelsea’s academy graduate belongs in the thick of the conversation for the world’s best right-back. He’s just got to avoid these small injury absences every year, though.

Pochettino’s ability to get the best from his full-backs has been a common theme of his career, which is why we expect James and Ben Chilwell to really thrive moving forward.

The Athletic claimed last month that James worked with a personal trainer before pre-season even started. So, will we see the best version of him this season?