Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has lashed out at club captain Reece James over his lack of leadership and told him he expects more of him.
It comes after the right-back only recently recovered from injury, making his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
That was the first time in a year that James had started a match for Chelsea while players such as Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher and, most recently, Enzo Fernandez have stepped up to the captain's role in his absence.
And as the Blues prepare to face Newcastle on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, Maresca has delivered a bruising criticism of the England international.
"I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room," said Maresca.
"He's on the way, he's doing well, he's progressing but I expect more.
"Most of the time, a player thinks that 'because I am captain I expect that you [the manager] give me more'.
"No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest.
"I expect it from Reece and his team-mates expect it from him to give always more in terms of leadership."
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James was named captain at the start of the 2023/24 season by Maresca's predecessor Mauricio Pochettino after Cesar Azpilicueta left.
The 24-year-old came up through the academy at Chelsea and has made 159 appearances for the Blues and was a vital part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2021.
However, recent years have seen the Englishman hampered by injuries and the past two seasons have seen him play just 26 times in the Premier League.
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Reece James has been criticised by Enzo Maresca
PA
"He's understanding that we're expecting more from him," added Maresca.
"He's our guy from the academy. It's one of the reasons why he has to show more in terms of personality.
"He's a reserved guy. But when you don't have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don't have a proper leader. We need to build them.
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"Reece is one who is on the way but he's not there. He needs to make an effort."
Chelsea sit seventh in the Premier League after four wins out of eight, with their two defeats coming against Manchester City and Liverpool.
They host Newcastle on Sunday in the first of a double-billed encounter with the two sides set to meet again on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup at St. James' Park.
