'I don't like it' – John Terry says Enzo Maresca is completely wrong about Chelsea star

03/20/2025 08:12 AM

John Terry says he ‘doesn’t like’ Enzo Maresca’s assessment of Reece James and agrees with Thomas Tuchel that the Chelsea captain should remain a defender.

James has been hampered by a series of injury problems in recent seasons but, when fit, the 25-year-old is widely considered to be among the most complete right-backs in world football.

The England international’s’ versatility has, at times, proven invaluable at Chelsea, with the full-back infrequently covering central midfield and centre-back when called upon.

While rising through the Blues’ youth ranks, James was deployed in a number of positions and made his breakthrough at Stamford Bridge after playing a starring role on loan at Wigan Athletic as an attack-minded midfielder.

But facing the media earlier this month, Maresca went a step further and suggested James’ long-term future could lie in the middle of the park – something the Italian has felt ‘since day one’ as manager.

‘You can ask Reece, the day after I signed with Chelsea, I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder,’ Maresca told reporters ahead of his side’s 1-0 victory over Leicester.

‘I see Reece as a midfielder, not just now but since day one. Before I met him for the first time, when he was on holiday, I sent him a clip of how he could play as a midfielder.

‘So I imagined him playing as a midfielder a long time ago. He is playing [there] now, but the good thing is this season he has played as a full-back, a central defender, many positions, but the main target for us is to help him stay fit all season

An injury to Cole Palmer saw James start in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo against Arsenal last weekend and the Chelsea skipper was tasked with man-marking Declan Rice.

But James badly struggled and was replaced by Romeo Lavia in the closing stages of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat, with Wayne Rooney among those to question Maresca’s bold selection at the Emirates.

Tuchel has ruled out playing James in midfield for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, insisting his 2020/21 Champions League winner ‘is a player for the full-back and wing-back positions’ this week.

‘I agree with that [Tuchel’s assessment]. I see him as a defender,’ ex-Chelsea captain Terry told BBC Sport.

‘I don’t like it, to be honest, people drifting in [to midfield], I think it is more confusing.

‘Midfielders are very comfortable with their back to goal.

‘When defenders step into those roles it is probably the opposite, we are probably not as comfortable receiving the ball with our back to goal.

‘A very different role and first and foremost, talking about the 2005/06 season, we conceded 15 goals and top teams are built around good foundations and I think you need that.

‘To be able to do that, you need a back four or a solid back three in place.’

Terry believes James’ leadership style is markedly different to that which he deployed while wearing the armband at Stamford Bridge.

But the ex-England defender sees no reason why James cannot go on to be a successful captain in west London, as long as he remains ‘100 per cent’ authentic with his team-mates in the dressing room.

‘Reece leads the team different to the way did which is fine. There is different ways to be a captain and a leader,’ Terry added.

‘I said this to him, Reece has to be 100 per cent Reece James. He doesn’t need to be 10 percent John Terry.

‘He has to be really authentic because he is the one speaking in front of the boys as well and, if not, people will see through it if not.

‘He is doing a good job, but I think first and foremost when you are at a captain of a football club you need to be consistent in your performances and to do that you have to play week in and week out.’

James will hope to be involved tomorrow night when England kick off their World Cup qualification campaign at home to Albania in Group K.

The Three Lions then return to Wembley on Monday evening to entertain a Latvia team ranked 140 in the world.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.