Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shed light on his unexpected decision to leave club captain Reece James on the bench for the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis.
The Italian coach’s choice raised eyebrows, especially as Chelsea struggled to dominate the Spanish side in the first half, conceding an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. However, Maresca’s decision to bring James on at halftime in place of Malo Gusto proved to be a masterstroke, as Chelsea staged a stunning comeback to win the game 4-1.
Maresca revealed that he benched James to protect him, citing the need to manage the player’s workload. “I promise you, I would always start with Reece. But I’m trying to protect him. He’s a top player for us. It’s like Cole, the problem is we need to manage him,” Maresca explained.
Despite being left out of the starting lineup, James showed no signs of frustration, telling Maresca “Boss, don’t worry, we’re going to win the game” when he was substituted in at halftime.
Maresca’s decision to bring James on at halftime proved to be a turning point in the game, as Chelsea’s substitutions and Real Betis’s drop-off in the second half helped the Blues secure a convincing 4-1 victory.
The win marked a significant milestone for Chelsea, who became the first team to win all four major UEFA competitions. Maresca’s tactical acumen and ability to make key decisions under pressure were instrumental in Chelsea’s success, and his decision to bench James will likely be vindicated by the team’s dominant performance in the second half
