Major Chelsea decision SLAMMED by Scholes

Cameron Smith

Updated: 1 Nov 2024 17:08 CDT
4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticised Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to name Reece James as Chelsea’s club captain last summer.

Article continues under the video

The ex-England international’s leadership skills have been called into question by new boss Enzo Maresca in recent weeks, and Scholes believes he isn’t suited to the captaincy role.

James, a product of Chelsea’s famed academy, was selected as Cesar Azpilicueta’s replacement as Chelsea captain last year, although he has only worn the armband on eight occasions due to multiple injury issues.

“The captain’s role is quite important,” Scholes told The Overlap.

“We had some unbelievable captains at Manchester United. Bryan Robson is someone you look up to with the stature, the presence, he looks after his players. Roy Keane - these types of players. I think it’s important.

“You look at Arsenal, you look at the great captains [like] Tony Adams, Chelsea [had] John Terry, Liverpool [had] Steven Gerrard. All the big characters in the team, it’s important for these young players to look up to that. I think it’s big.

“I remember when Reece James got appointed, I thought, he doesn’t look like a captain to me.

“He seems very quiet and shy. You can be captain like that but he’s just not the character that you’d expect for a club the size as Chelsea Football Club.

“Off the pitch, they are big characters as well that people look up to. I don’t see Cole Palmer as a captain [either].”

Enzo Maresca on Reece James

Scholes’ comments come after James was recently criticised by Chelsea boss Maresca.

“He is on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing, but from Reece I expected more also in terms of leadership,” Maresca said when asked about James’ leadership qualities.

“Most of the time when they are captain, they think that because they are captain they have more: ‘Because I am the captain, I expect that you give me more.’

Current ETV

Reece James

D, M (R)

Chelsea

Reece James

D, M (R)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€19.1M - €31.8M

“For me, because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest. And sometimes it’s - ‘OK, I am the captain I can give less’ - no.

“He’s one of the captains and I expected from him, and his team-mates expected from him, to always give more in terms of leadership in general.”