If there is caution in his voice, then it is understandable. Reece James seems to be back.
The new role on Wednesday for Chelsea, associated with the first goal for England during an international break, suggests that the Blues Academy has built several difficult months and years.
“It was a rocky journey, the last three years,” he says Sky Sports On the sun -drenched spring afternoon at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Base.
“That means a lot to me now every time I get to the pitch, especially when I had so much disappointment on the way. I’m glad to help Chelsea and England.
“It’s been long since I put on an English shirt. It was a great feeling to score my first international goal, I was waiting for it for a long time.
“Few of my teammates saw me that I had scored a free kick before, but I know my skills, so I wasn’t surprised to see that he was going inside.”
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English manager Thomas Tuchel discusses the performance of Reece James against Latvia, and whether he could appear in the middle field for three lions after the head of Chelsea enzo Maresco claimed
However, the head coach in New England, Thomas Tuchel, saw such bravery relatively recently. He was at the Stamford Bridge stalls when James turned into the equalizer of the stop against Bournemouth in January.
A free kick against Latvia was probably an even better blow. The connection with Tuchel has once again made a comfortable return to the English group.
“Yeah, it definitely helped and saw the familiar faces again,” James continues. “Squad is slightly different from what it was before. Now there are a lot of younger players.
“I feel that the group is closer now, these are exciting times. Our goal is to win the World Championship and there are not many teams on paper that are better, we just have to translate it into the field.”
There is a feeling that James wants to align the lost time. Any ambitions in England are aligned at the club level now that it regularly plays for Enzo Maresca.
Thursday 3rd April 19:30
Kick off 20:00
On Thursday evening, searching for returning to the Champions League with home accessories against Tottenham Hotspur before Brentford is facing a short jump over West London on Sunday afternoon.
“Our goal is to play the Champions League football next year,” James adds. “I think there are even more from us, there are early days.
“We have learned a lot this season and we are still learning. We came to jump this year and the limits and consistent fight against the best teams in the league.”
“I think the team’s balance is crucial, having different players for different roles. Everyone complements well and that helps with where we are so far. Hopefully our performances reflect how far we have come.
“The way the head coach is with the team, the way we want us to play and how passionate is pleasant. Our idea and focus remains the same regardless of which we play.”
Spending so much time on the sidelines gave James a chance to consider not only his own path Chelsea, but also about the direction the club set out.
James spent three years plagued by injury but now back in Chelsea team
It has been almost three years since Roman Abramovich sold to the capital of Clearlake Todd Boehly, and the success was difficult to reach a new property.
As a club captain, James feels responsible for ensuring the harmony of the dressing room and believes that the club is again firmly on the right track.
“If you have a lot of new players and employees, sometimes the club’s meaning can be lost in translation,” he explains. “But everyone is here on the same page, we all have the same goal.
“If people have different values and see things in a different way, it’s much harder. There are many pages to become a good player who was a good teammate, became a versatile team.
“There are a lot of pieces that people don’t see. It’s hard to adapt to different cultures, other league and other language, but anyone who has now come well adapts to and takes it in their step.”
So the enforced period by James gave a new view of Chelsea and what does the club mean in their eyes?
“No, I wouldn’t say it changed my opinions on anything that the club means to me. It always meant the same thing. When Chelsea is my home on Stamford Bridge on Stamford Bridge.
Defender Chelsea James celebrates his late free kick against bournemouth
“I started here as a little boy and my dream was one day to play for the club. Haking shirts and representation of the club and being a club captain is a wonderful feeling for me.”
His new role on Wednesday resembled a direct transition for a player who spent his younger days in this more advanced position on the pitch.
“It’s somewhere where I grew up a lot as a child, maybe from U11 to U16, and a little when I was out on a loan (in Wigan Athletic during the 2018-19 season).
“So it’s not really new to me, it’s just a case to remind you how to play there again. I enjoy playing a role and helping the team as much as possible.
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“I played different positions growing up in the academy. If you talk to most of the first team players, the position they are now playing is probably not the one they started playing as a child. I enjoy where I play on the pitch.”
Also recognition of returning to the first team certificate XI, after so many fighting with injuries. Reece James back to his best will be a huge contribution to his club and country.
“In the end, I look back and say (challenges of fitness) helped me, but the moment it is quite difficult,” he concludes. “However, it did not have a negative effect.
“There’s a lot to look forward to, finish this season strongly and then go to the next season, whatever it could bring.”
Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sky Sports on Thursday evening; Kick-off 8pm …
