Reece James has revealed that his experience captaining Chelsea to Club World Cup glory in the United States last summer is aiding England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup preparations. The England right-back’s insights into navigating hot conditions in the US, which are anticipated this summer, look to be proving invaluable as Tuchel looks to ensure England are ready to tackle the temperatures.
Tuchel taps into James' US experience
Speaking to GQ Magazine, James confirmed Tuchel has quizzed him on last summer’s tournament. "Yeah, we’ve spoken about the set-up, what worked, what didn’t, having a base, stuff like that," James said. "I thought about (the World Cup) a lot (last summer). The climate, conditions, the pitch. It’s difficult to go over there in the middle of summer, especially when we play in England where the weather’s not so perky, so to get used to the conditions a year before (means) I can take a lot going forward."
Chelsea’s road to becoming world champions last summer did not come without experiencing the extreme weather that the US has to offer. Along with extreme heat, their last 16 tie with Benfica was delayed for nearly two hours mid-match due to a thunderstorm in Charlotte. The Blues nevertheless went on to beat the Portuguese giants in a match that lasted over four hours, and after also dispatching Brazilian outfits Palmeiras and Fluminense on their way to the final, Chelsea stunned Champions League-winners Paris Saint-Germain to triumph in the inaugural edition of the re-imagined tournament, doing so under the searing sun at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
James: Tuchel is one of the best
James will now return to the US with England as the only representative of Chelsea after Cole Palmer, the hero of last year’s Club World Cup final, was not selected by Tuchel. This marks a reunion for James and Tuchel, who secured Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup success at Chelsea in 2021. James praised his former manager, stating: "He’s one of the best managers. For me, he’s won at the highest level. He’s managed a number of world-class teams and I believe in him, his style of play and what he wants."
