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Thomas Tuchel has expressed doubts over Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s decision to deploy Reece James as a central midfielder, arguing that the England international is more effective as a wing-back.

James, who has endured a difficult spell with injuries over the past three years, has only recently returned to full fitness. His impressive performances under Tuchel during Chelsea’s Champions League-winning campaign were largely due to his role as a right wing-back, where he was able to dominate both defensively and offensively.

Tuchel believes James’ physical attributes and defensive skills are better suited to the flanks rather than the midfield. “I still feel he is a player for the full-back and wing-back positions. We have enough players in central midfield who are specialists in that role,” Tuchel stated.

However, Maresca sees things differently. Since taking charge at Chelsea last summer, the Italian manager has insisted that James possesses the technical and tactical qualities to thrive in midfield. In fact, Maresca revealed that he sent James a video of him playing in midfield even before their first meeting.

“I see Reece as a midfielder, not now – since day one. Before I met him, I sent him a clip of him playing in midfield,” Maresca said. “In Copenhagen, he played in midfield and wasn’t exposed to high-intensity runs. It’s now up to him to prove he can handle the role.”

Tuchel remains skeptical, highlighting James’ injury history and questioning whether he can cope with the physical demands of a central midfield role. “Reece needs to prove that he can do it. The history and the numbers recently tell us it is possible, but it’s on him to prove the point,” Tuchel added.

Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate has shown faith in James by recalling him to the national team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. The right-back’s return to fitness is seen as a major boost for the Three Lions ahead of the crucial fixtures.

As James prepares to adapt to a new role under Maresca, the debate over his best position continues. Whether he can successfully transition to midfield or return to his natural wing-back role remains to be seen, but all eyes will be on the Chelsea captain as he looks to prove his doubters wrong.