‘I don’t want my fullbacks going up and down’ — Enzo Maresca makes stunning claim as he hails Chelsea star who can play everywhere

Enzo Maresca Chelsea manager
Photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shed light on his tactical approach to player positions, emphasising the versatility of captain Reece James. Since arriving at the club last summer, Maresca has adopted an unconventional approach to full-back roles, often deploying players in multiple positions.

Discussing his philosophy, Maresca explained:

“Full-backs going up and down, physically you use more energy, but I’m not a fan of full-backs going up and down.”

He highlighted how Chelsea’s full-backs, including Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella, and James, have been used in varied roles:

“Our full-backs – Malo, Reece, Cucu – we don’t use them up and down. The only one game we played with a proper full-back was Palace.”

Reece James
Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Maresca further praised James’ adaptability and his belief in modern footballers being multifunctional:

“Reece can play everywhere. I said since we started, talking about positions, today you have to be a football player who can play in different positions. You can’t say, ‘I’m just a full-back, central defender, it’s not for me.’”

James’ versatility has been a key asset for Maresca’s system, offering Chelsea flexibility across different tactical setups. This adaptability underlines the importance of having multi-dimensional players in today’s game.

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