Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, still bemoaning how skipper Reece James would not lead much from the periphery as he serves in his spell of absenteeism due to injury, admitted that leadership is very imperative for one to boost others to work as a collective body.

James has featured since returning to the game against Liverpool, who beat the team 2-1. The period of time he lost to injury in recent matches casts doubts on his leadership character. Maresca believes that had James been more communicative and understanding to his teammates, things could have been different in the troubled times for the team.

Oleg Bkhambri (Voltmetro), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“I thought Reece should have led more,” said Maresca. “A captain should always give more, whether he is playing or not. Sometimes, captains feel they can slack off because of their position, but that’s not the case. A true leader inspires and motivates his team, even from the sidelines.”

In general, Maresca feels that the squad at Chelsea lacks leadership. “We do not have a proper leader,” he admitted. “Tosin Adarabioyo is one of the few, but we need more players to take on leadership roles.”

While James is expected to play in the match against Newcastle, his leadership skills are bound to be further scrutinized. Maresca’s words indicate that the club wants more from its captain, not only on the field but also off it.