Reece James, the right-back for Chelsea, is in a “good place,” according to Graham Potter, the club’s manager, despite going through one of his worst seasons as a player.
Remember that Reece James has struggled with a knee injury all season, only managing seven Premier League games thus far in 2022-2023.
James’ football career suffered a serious setback as he missed the first half of the season and the 2022 FIFA World Cup with England as a result of the injury.
Reece James expressed his “devastation” at not reaching the England World Cup squad after it was revealed that the injury he suffered during a Champions League game against AC Milan on October 11 would keep him out of the team.
Coach Potter said: “It was a World Cup and they come around every four years. So when you’re young, the perspective is not so easy to get.
“You are young and you want to play. That’s understandable. It’s the same for Reece, [England left-back] Ben Chilwell, and [France midfielder] N’Golo Kante. It’s brutal really to have to deal with.
“You can try to help them and give them a bit of perspective but in the end, it has to come from them, their families, and those people close to them.”
James is back to full fitness, according to coach Potter, ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League match against Bournemouth, which will begin at 18:30 today, December 27.
The 23-year-old English left-back has reportedly resumed his training and will be eligible for today’s game, according to the coach.
The World Cup happens every four years, according to coach Potter. So it’s harder to gain perspective when you’re young.
The coach added: “I have to say he is in a good mood, he is in a good place. He has trained with us, is training well, and is a good team-mate. He has dealt with it well.
“It is not too much you can say. You say it will get better with time and you have to focus on the things you can control. But there is nothing you can say to a player that will make it get better.
“He is missing the World Cup. What can I say? All I can do is acknowledge that it is upsetting, that whatever he is feeling is normal and help him move forwards.
“It was a challenging period for him. It was a challenging period for all the players. You have to think on some level there is an effect there. They’re only human.”
