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Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Reece James is one of the contenders who could be the next Chelsea captain next season after the right-back joined the squad for pre-season games in the USA.
James, a Chelsea player since 2006, when he joined their academy, was promoted to the senior team in 2018. Since then, he has been amongst the club’s most influential stars and is on his day one of the best players in the Premier League.
The right-back’s commitment to the club could see him claim the captain’s armband after long-standing skipper Cesar Azpilicueta departed the club. However, apart from James, Thiago Silva could be another name who could lead the team, as he is one of the senior players at West London and has a pedigree for leading star-stacked teams.
After spending the majority of the previous season on the sidelines owing to numerous knee injuries, the 23-year-old will be aiming to begin the new one with more certainty. Hopefully the worst of his injuries are behind him and he can now focus his attention on reclaiming his standing as the league’s best right-back.
But the decision on whether he will be the new skipper will solely come down to Pochettino, who could decide who should be the leader of the team for next season. Speaking at a press conference, (h/t Football.London) the Argentine boss said on the captaincy role:
He is one of the possibilities. We have been talking from day one about his objectives and how he has performed in the last few years at the club. He feels Chelsea; he came from the academy. He is one of the players who can be the present and future captains of the club.
James has shown the attributes of being the club’s captain, and we hope he could become Chelsea’s leader for next season, as we have not seen many academy players being named captain over the years. Hopefully, he remains fully fit for next season and continues to make a difference in the field.
James has made no secret of his desire to one day become the Blues skipper. The onus will now be on whether Pochettino feels he is ready to don the role. After all, some are born to lead while others come into their own when thrust into the spotlight. James will not want to be neither.
It would make more sense to appoint him the vice-captain, allowing him the freedom and space to learn from Silva. This should ensure that James is ready when it is time for him to take over from the Brazilian in the coming years.
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