Enzo Maresca has revealed that playing Reece James in midfield was part of his plan from the very beginning, insisting he told the Chelsea captain he saw him as a No.6 from the moment he took charge.
James delivered a stunning long-range goal as Chelsea secured a 2-1 victory over Copenhagen in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League last-16 tie on Thursday evening.
The Blues captain, typically deployed as a right-back, played as a defensive midfielder for the entire match—a decision manager Maresca insists was part of a long-term vision for the England international.