Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca stunned fans on Wednesday night by benching captain Reece James for the UEFA Europa Conference League final — a decision that raised eyebrows, especially after Malo Gusto struggled in the first half of the 4-1 win over Real Betis.

Gusto was directly at fault for Betis’ opening goal, and his underwhelming performance only intensified questions over Maresca’s bold choice. But the Italian boss insisted his decision was motivated by a need to “protect” James, who has battled fitness issues throughout the season.

“I promise you, I would start always with Reece,” Maresca explained after the game. “But I’m trying to protect him. He’s a top player for us. It’s like Cole [Palmer], the problem is we need to manage him. When we changed him, he said to me, ‘Boss, don’t worry, we’re going to win the game.’”

James was introduced at half-time with Chelsea trailing 1-0. His impact was immediate, helping to solidify the defence and inject leadership as the Blues stormed back with four unanswered goals — courtesy of Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo — to lift the trophy and make history.

Speaking after the game, James admitted it was painful not to start: “Of course it is devastating to know you are not starting in a final. I want to play every game, but it was the manager’s decision. Once he made the decision, I had to move on and accept it and be ready when I was needed.”

James’ professionalism and influence proved pivotal in the turnaround, as Chelsea ended the season on a high and booked a return to the Champions League for next season.

With silverware secured and James back to full fitness, fans will be hoping Maresca’s cautious approach pays dividends long-term — starting with next season’s European campaign.