Enzo Maresca demands 'more' from Chelsea captain after injury return

Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea do not have a 'proper leader' in the dressing room and expects captain Reece James to step up.

James made his long-awaited return to action during the Blues' 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury in the summer that saw him spend the opening weeks of Chelsea's 2024/25 campaign on the sidelines. His first appearance of the season saw him reclaim the captain's armband and earn an immediate place in Maresca's starting lineup.

The defender is expected to be named in the squad once again when Chelsea host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but has a long way to go if he hopes to impress Maresca.

"I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room," the Chelsea boss told reporters. "He's on the way, he's doing well, he's progressing but I expect more.

"Most of the time, a player thinks that 'because I am captain I expect that you [the manager] give me more'. No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest.

"I expect it from Reece and his team-mates expect it from him to give always more in terms of leadership. He's understanding that we're expecting more from him.

"He's our guy from the academy. It's one of the reasons why he has to show more in terms of personality. He's a reserved guy. But when you don't have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don't have a proper leader. We need to build them.

"Reece is one who is on the way but he's not there. He needs to make an effort."

Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. A midweek 4-1 Conference League victory over Panathinaikos offered the chance for Maresca to rest most of his key starters ahead of the weekend.

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