Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted that Reece James’ absence from the defeat on Saturday to Brighton & Hove Albion was simply part of his recovery plan.
James was completely left out when Chelsea was crashed from the Fa Cup, which explained concerns that the club captain had suffered a further injury. He recently returned from his second thigh edition of the season and has been missed by every Premier League campaign since 2021/22.
His tricky record of injury led to obvious concerns about James’ condition when he couldn’t be seen on Saturday, but Maresca insisted that Chelsea fans gave nothing to worry about.
“It was planned,” said Maresca about James’ absence. “He is okay. He trains, it was just to protect him a little to avoid injuries again.”
Maresca has pointed out to put players into practice with long -term concerns this season. Both midfielder Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, the central defenders, were held out of the Conference League squad throughout the season, and Maresca admits that none of the players can play two games in a single week.
James, who plays in the Conference League squad in the second half of the season, has made nine appearances in all competitions so far.