HomeSportsReece James out for the rest of the season

Reece James out for the rest of the season

Reece James will out for the rest of the season as Chelsea look to salvage what is left of their season.

Interim manager, Frank Lampard confirmed that the defender will miss the rest the season at a press conference.

Selected to start at right wing-back against Real Madrid, James played the whole of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final match at Stamford Bridge.

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Having suffered a hamstring injury during the game, Reece James played on as the Blues attempted to turn around a deficit from the first leg.

“It’s important that players are prepared to go that extra mile,” said Lampard.

“Knowing him as a lad I’m not surprised. I think Reece James was also possibly the best player on the pitch with a dodgy hamstring so it goes to show his level as a player.

“With Reece James, we have to find a way that we can get all that capacity he’s got and get more constant with his availability at times, because he’s such a top player. Mason is the same, he has been playing through an injury because he wants to contribute to the club and players who really want to contribute to Chelsea are what it’s all about.

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“If you don’t have that type of desire then you can’t be a top player for Chelsea. So those two are the epitome of that.

“I don’t think it’s about loving Chelsea necessarily,’ Lampard clarified. ‘It’s about having a pride in what you do and loving playing football, and understanding that it takes real motivation and desire and the basics before you even get to the finer details. It should be a prerequisite for players playing in a team when you want to be a top team in the Premier League.”

Reece James has not had good fortune with injury the past couple of seasons but Lampard argues against suggestions there is something fundamental that is a concern for the 23-year-old’s future.

“Sometimes there’s an element of misfortune, or having to play every three days with a lot of exertion on your bodies for the young lads sometimes can be a bit taxing, but I don’t think it’s a problem.

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“Because you understand absolutely what Reece James gives this team both offensively and defensively, your eyes are drawn to the fact when he’s not there. So we want to get him as fit as he can be regularly because he is a top player.”

Lampard, brought in earlier this month to replace Graham Potter until the end of the season, has lost all four games of his second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are 11th in the Premier League table and their season is effectively over after they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last week.

Argentine Pochettino could take over before the end of the campaign, but former midfielder Lampard, who is Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, said the club has “big difficulties”.

Asked whether he expects to be in charge for the remaining games, Lampard added: “I wouldn’t expect anything in football, but we have come in to a club with big difficulties, with not a lot of time.

“There are a lot of factors as to the four games I have been here. The team and club have been struggling for a while. We are here to help but things won’t change in a short time.”

Alfred Saiki
Alfred Saiki
A passionate sports journalist and administrator. I want to see the world.