How Reece James Performed in Midfield During Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

In their continuous chase of top-four credentials in Enzo Maresca’s debut season, Chelsea squandered points in a 2-1 loss to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Saturday evening – and fans noticed something different when he named his starting lineup.

Because of the crowded schedule of Premier League games, especially with the added bonus of Europe, Maresca took a gamble with his team selection as his players travelled to Villa Park in search of all three points.

That included putting Reece James, a right-back by trade, in midfield with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. When healthy and ready to go, few right-backs can match the 16-cap England international’s all-round abilities.

As a result, despite the Blues being stung late on by Filip Jorgensen’s blunder, which saw the home side win 2-1 on home turf, most of the post-match conversation has focused on how the former Wigan Athletic player performed in the heat of the action.

Maresca opted for James in the midfield role
The Englishman played a double pivot with Caicedo.

The problem with James, who is widely considered as one of the most injury-prone players in Premier League history, is that he is rarely available to play a long stretch of games. And as the old saying goes, availability is the finest ability.

With Liverpool-linked Malo Gusto also starting, there was uncertainty about where James, Chelsea’s club captain after Cesar Azpilicueta left, would play. However, somewhat unsurprisingly, he was assigned to the engine room right away.

Acting as the perfect foil to Fernandez’s forward-thinking asset, he created a two-man pivot with Caicedo to screen in front of the west Londoners’ back line – but how did the statistics show he excelled in an unusual role?

Starting with the essentials, it would be unfair to suggest he wasn’t involved. His 58 touches, just four fewer than his combative midfield partner, Caicedo, demonstrated his willingness to get on the ball and make things happen, as did his pass completion percentage.

James completed 95% (40/42) of his passes, frequently scooping up the ball deep and firing it at marauding attackers like Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer. In terms of accurate long balls, all four found a teammate’s foot.

He struggled with his duelling attempts. Perhaps surprisingly, given his background as an out-and-out defender, he only won three of his attempted ground duels and failed to win a single aerial combat.

In terms of miscellaneous statistics, he dribbled 100% (1/1) of the time, lost possession seven times throughout his 90-minute cameo, and received two fouls. Aside from that, he made two clearances and one interception.

He also made one error that resulted in a shot, maybe demonstrating his inability to function under the pressure that central midfielders are designed to play under. Overall, he received a Sofascore rating of 6.8, the lowest among Chelsea’s starting three-man midfield.

Fans React to James’ Engine Room Performance

The Englishman earned mixed reviews

But what are Chelsea supporters saying? The following game is against Southampton in the Premier League, followed by a trip to Denmark to play Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League, but might James solidify his place in the middle?

Taking to X (previously Twitter), one admirer, who was perplexed by Maresca’s reasoning, said that he was doing virtually nothing in a position with which he is unfamiliar. They wrote, “Honestly, Reece James is doing nothing.”

Playing Reece James in midfield is diabolical tactics. Been a ghost and passing been mid. Hammy’s holding on like a thread.

— Suga Shaun (@shaunypizzle) February 22, 2025

Another suggested that Maresca transfer Gusto to the left-back position, allowing Marc Cucurella to play as Chelsea’s inverted full-back instead of James.

Maresca is willing to play Reece James anyplace except left back; what is wrong with that man? Move Gusto to left back and Cucurella to midfield instead.

Another fan suggested that James’s promising start on away soil suddenly faded, implying that a level of calm could allow him to perform at the highest level: “Reece James started well but had given the ball away twice in the last few minutes, needs to stay calm.”

Reece James: Chelsea Statistics

Club

Games

Goals

Assists

Yellow/Red cards

Chelsea

169

12

23

22/3

Chelsea U-18

42

2

8

4/0

Chelsea U-21

29

4

3

3/0

Chelsea UEFA U-19

8

0

3

1/0

Some assumed James, 25, would impress in the centre of the park. Aside from his commanding – and consequently physically demanding – position in the heart of the park, one fan compared him to an NFL quarterback.

Reece James has thrown two interceptions, but I’ve thoroughly liked watching him play quarterback. He can pick out any pass.

Another expressed gratitude to Maresca for bringing his exploiting strength to their midfield play, saying, “Reece James in midfield to improve our physicality is the only serious tweak I’ve seen Enzo Maresca make in a match this season.”