Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has praised Reece James for his amazing performance as Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Even though Reece is normally a defender, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca played him in midfield – and it worked perfectly! James played with strength, calmness, and smart thinking. He helped stop PSG’s midfield stars like Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz from doing any damage.
Reece James played next to Moises Caicedo, while Enzo Fernandez played just in front of them. Together, they controlled the game.
Speaking on DAZN, Mikel said:
“The manager probably tested it in training a day before. Sometimes, if it works in training, the manager will try it in the match. Reece was really good — strong, smart, and calm. He worked well with Caicedo.”
Mikel, who played over 370 games for Chelsea, added that the midfield switch confused PSG:
“We didn’t let Vitinha and the others have space. If you give them time, they’ll hurt you. But Reece and the team shut them down. That’s why Chelsea won.”
This was a big moment for Reece James, who has missed many games in the past two seasons because of injuries. His return to form is great news for Chelsea as they get ready for the new 2025/26 season.
Manager Maresca now sees Reece as not just a defender, but someone who can shine in other roles too.
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