Enzo Maresca confirms Reece James’ substitution was planned, with Chelsea managing his minutes ahead of crucial matches against Barcelona and Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca has put fans’ minds at ease regarding Reece James’ substitution at halftime against Burnley, confirming it was always the plan to bring the Chelsea captain off.

The England defender was replaced at the interval, sparking concerns about a potential injury, but Maresca explained that the decision was made to manage James’ minutes.

Chelsea had a busy international break, with James featuring heavily for England in their wins against Serbia and Albania.

Maresca wants to ensure James is fit and fresh for upcoming matches, including the Champions League game against Barcelona and the Premier League clash with Arsenal.

“We planned on 45 minutes,” Maresca said, emphasizing the need to protect James. “It’s not easy, because me personally, I would like Reece to continue, but we need to protect Reece.”

Maresca also praised Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, who played the full 90 minutes against Burnley. Neither player traveled to international duty, instead remaining at Cobham to manage knee and groin injuries, respectively.