Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's head coach, has made some bold statements about leadership within his squad according to The Telegraph. Speaking about Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo, Maresca revealed his thoughts on the leadership gap that Chelsea is currently experiencing.
James, a Chelsea academy graduate, is often seen as a cornerstone for the future. However, Maresca believes the player needs to show more to assume the role of a leader. "He understands that we expected more from him. He’s one of our guys from the academy, but this is one of the reasons why he has to show more in terms of personality," said Maresca.
The coach's words come as Chelsea look to rebuild following recent struggles. Without a defined leader on the pitch, Maresca is keen to cultivate leadership among his players. "When you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don’t have a proper leader."
While James is still developing, Tosin Adarabioyo has caught the coach’s eye as a potential leader. "Probably Tosin is one of the guys that is," Maresca stated, showing confidence in the defender’s ability to step up where others haven't.
Tosin, who joined Chelsea from Fulham, has already started to show the qualities that Maresca is looking for in a leader. His consistency, calm presence, and commanding displays in defense have marked him out as a player with leadership potential.
Though James is admired for his talent and contributions on the field, Maresca believes he still has work to do in developing his leadership qualities. "Reece is on the way but he is not there," Maresca remarked, making it clear that while James is improving, he's yet to reach the leadership standards expected of him.
For Chelsea, the absence of a strong leader has been felt, especially with many senior players departing or struggling with form. Maresca's efforts to shape both Tosin and Reece into influential figures are key to his vision for the future. As the 2024/25 season continues, both players will be under scrutiny to see who will fill the leadership void at the club.
For now, Tosin seems to be the one leading by example, while Reece James continues on his journey to becoming the leader Chelsea needs.
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