Paul Scholes recently shared his thoughts on Reece James as Chelsea’s captain, and he has his doubts about whether James is the right fit for the role.
After Cesar Azpilicueta left Chelsea in 2023 to join Atletico Madrid, James was named as his successor. However, a series of injuries have kept James off the pitch, and now some, including Scholes, are questioning his leadership style.
On a recent episode of The Overlap, Scholes, the former Manchester United star, mentioned that he finds James too quiet and reserved to lead a club of Chelsea’s stature. “The captain’s role is pretty important,” Scholes remarked, reflecting on his own experience at United with captains who had a strong presence.
Scholes gave examples of some memorable captains, including Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, both known for their bold and commanding leadership styles. “You look at Arsenal, you look at the great captains – Tony Adams, Chelsea – John Terry, Liverpool – Steven Gerrard,” he explained, emphasizing that big clubs often have larger-than-life leaders who inspire the whole team.
For Scholes, James doesn’t naturally fit that mold. “I remember when Reece James got appointed, I thought, he doesn’t look like a captain to me,” he admitted. “He seems very quiet and shy.” While Scholes acknowledged that quiet leaders can still be effective, he questioned if James has the commanding personality needed for Chelsea.
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Interestingly, Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, recently voiced similar concerns. Maresca highlighted that being captain means “giving more than the rest,” and suggested that he wants to see James take on a stronger role, especially in terms of setting an example and boosting team morale.
Maresca noted that while James has responded well to this challenge, there’s still room for growth. “Good, that’s why I said he’s on the way,” Maresca said, adding that James is aware of the expectations and is making strides toward becoming a more assertive leader for Chelsea.
Maresca also admitted that Chelsea currently lacks a “proper leader.” While he’s hopeful about James’s potential, he also mentioned center-backs Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill as players who are stepping up behind the scenes to fill that gap.
“When you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that,” Maresca explained. He hinted that Adarabioyo has shown natural leadership qualities, while Colwill, who was quieter at the start of the season, is gradually becoming a more vocal presence on the team.
In Maresca’s eyes, James is “on the way” to becoming the leader Chelsea needs, but he still has work to do to reach that level. Colwill, on the other hand, has made noticeable progress, with Maresca pointing out how he’s now one of the players who’s consistently speaking up.
While both Scholes and Maresca see potential in James, they agree that he’ll need to put in some effort to grow into a more assertive leader. The role of a captain at a club like Chelsea isn’t easy, and it’s clear both men feel James has some development ahead if he’s to fully embrace it.
It’s a challenging but exciting time for Chelsea as they look to shape a new generation of leaders. Fans will be watching closely to see if James can rise to the occasion and bring the level of authority Chelsea needs on the pitch.
