Was Reece James Right To Criticise His Chelsea Teammates?

Chelsea made hard work of making the UEFA Conference League semi-finals. Thursday’s 2-1 home defeat to Legia Warsaw was embarrassing, but Enzo Maresca’s team still made it through 4-2 on aggregate. Nonetheless, club captain Reece James saw reason to publicly criticise his struggling teammates.

“We had a 3-0 lead, maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas,” said James. “We are making progress but that was not progress. If anything it was a step back. Maybe we disrespected the competition. If you don’t prepare right, you will pay. It’s going to affect the mindset. It’s going to be in the back of people’s heads. I understand the frustration. Fans come to see excitement, we were frustrating to watch.”

This wasn’t an isolated performance. Chelsea has struggled for a number of weeks. Before losing at home to Legia Warsaw, the Blues drew against an Ipswich Town that is all but relegated from the Premier League. Maresca’s team is clinging on to hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League now that it is down to sixth place in the table.

The first half of the season when Chelsea suffered just two defeats in its first 17 league fixtures has faded in the memory. The Blues are struggling for consistent firepower in the final third, scoring just three goals in heir last five league outings. Supporters have complaints about the boring, predictable soccer being played.

Cole Palmer is currently a shadow of the player that sparkled for Chelsea in the first half of the season. The Blues are struggling for consistent form from their best wide players. Defensively, the Stamford Bridge outfit has been vulnerable, as Ipswich Town demonstrated by scoring twice last weekend.

Despite the home loss to Legia Warsaw, Chelsea has the chance to lift a trophy in this season’s Conference League. This would give Maresca a symbol to prove the Blues are moving in the right direction under his stewardship, as would qualification for the Champions League through the Premier League.

James demonstrated leadership by calling out his own teammates. Chelsea has lost its way in recent seasons. The winning mentality that existed in the Roma Abramovich era is gone and James is one of the few players in the current Chelsea squad who knows what it takes to achieve victory. The Blues captain might only be 25, but he speaks from experience.