Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes recently questioned Chelsea’s choice of Reece James as captain, voicing his concerns over the defender’s leadership style.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who appointed James captain at the start of the 2023-24 season, also expressed disappointment with James’s leadership qualities.
Maresca, who joined from Leicester City, shared that while James is progressing, he expects more assertive leadership in the locker room.
Scholes, speaking on Sky Bet’s The Overlap, echoed these sentiments, observing that James lacks the outspoken, commanding presence typical of past greats like John Terry or Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
Scholes also doubted Cole Palmer’s suitability for the captain’s role, citing his quiet demeanor. Despite these leadership concerns, Chelsea’s season has started strong, sitting fifth in the Premier League and leading their Europa Conference League group.