Xabi Alonso has backed Reece James to become world-class in central midfield, hinting that his future lies away from right-back for Chelsea.
James' midfield role
Alonso is not the first manager to field James in the middle of the park. Having played the vast majority of his career as a right-back, the Chelsea captain has started in midfield for club and country over the past year.
Having sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125million on deadline day and failed to bring in Lamine Camara as a replacement from Monaco, Chelsea are shorter in midfield options. Moises Caicedo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Romeo Lavia are the specialist options, but Alonso has taken a different approach this season.
Alonso's verdict
Chelsea have been using a 3-4-3 formation since Alonso arrived as manager this season and the Spaniard has used both James and Malo Gusto in central positions. Speaking ahead of their trip to north London to play Arsenal on Sunday, Alonso hailed James' potential in the position.
Asked if James could become a world-class right-back, Alonso replied: "I would say so. He is very comfortable and confident playing in that position."
"He has the intelligence to play there because, in the middle, you need to be able to connect with your team-mates and know what the best thing to do is before you get the ball."
"He has this awareness. I remember him playing very, very well playing in the middle. So we are using him and he will have a lot of minutes as a midfielder."
Physical demands
He added: "For me, physically, when he is fresh and prepared, he has shown he can compete in the Premier League – no issue. As a midfielder, you have to take a lot of easy decisions and many right decisions. You are very connected to the game and are close to the action. Walking is not possible."
"So Reece is very involved in the game and knows where he needs to be. He has the capacity to help the team-mates around him and that is very important to me because he has this presence where he has respect from his teammates. When he says something, they listen and they follow him."
James was left out of the starting XI for the 4-3 win over Brighton last weekend, with Gusto playing alongside Lavia in the middle of the pitch. The failure to land Camara in a £47m deal from Monaco on deadline day was a disappointment, but Alonso is sure they have enough quality in the position.
"We have this feeling with the squad that we are good to go. If we have these setbacks in the season with injuries and suspensions, we have this feeling that we will be able to manage," he said.
"Time will tell, but at the moment he (James) is having a very important role in that position. I knew [before I joined] that he could play there."
