With Reece James set to play a key role at Chelsea under Xabi Alonso, it’s become clear exactly where the Englishman sees himself playing.
Reece James is set for a significant shift under Xabi Alonso. To manage his physical workload and mitigate his history of muscular injuries, Chelsea plans to transition James away from the demanding right wing-back role and into a potential midfield role.
Alonso’s preferred three-back system offers two alternatives for James. The most likely option is deploying him as a number six. He can use his technical ability and passing range to good affect during build-up play, a role he handled effectively under Enzo Maresca.
This ensures James remains a focal point for Chelsea while preserving his long-term fitness.
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Reece James wants the freedom at Chelsea
After all the rumours surrounding where Reece James will play once Xabi Alonso takes charge, Chelsea fans finally have a bit of an answer.
Ben Jacobs, when talking on the London Is Blue podcast, reckons that James will be playing in his usual free position at right-back, but with the ability of drifting into midfield.
“My sense is that Reece James still wants to play with freedom and at times even if he’s not overlapping still have that metronome capability which obviously if you stick him in midfield he’s able to do but bear in mind a few things.
“The full-backs run a lot under Jabi Alonzo, which isn’t some deep tactical point, but keep that at the back of your mind.”
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Reece James would be better off as a midfielder
Transitioning Reece James into Chelsea’s midfield offers the ideal solution from a tactical point of view.
Moving into a central midfield double-pivot, which could potentially be alongside Moises Caicedo or Valentin Barco, allows him to dictate play.
Crucially, James is natural in the middle, having dominated there during his Wigan loan spell and effectively inverting under Enzo Maresca.
As we’ve seen with England, James isn’t actually the most attacking of wing-backs and at times, struggles to get into positions to display his passing and crossing ability, so this could free him up more.
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