'He was really good' – Mikel lauds Chelsea captain after midfield masterclass against PSG

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has heaped praise on Reece James following the Chelsea skipper’s commanding display in midfield during the Blues’ 3-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca deployed James in a central midfield role, a move that paid dividends as the 25-year-old showcased strength, intelligence, and composure to help stifle PSG’s highly rated midfield trio.

Speaking on DAZN, Mikel highlighted the strategic decision and praised the captain’s ability to adapt.

“The manager probably tried a day before in training. Sometimes managers do try something in training, and if they believe that it worked it doesn't matter, they are not going to change, they will go with it,” Mikel said.

“He [Reece] was really good. He was in that midfield alongside [Moises] Caicedo, they complemented each other really well, of course with [Enzo] Fernendez playing just ahead of them.

Mikel, who played over a decade in Chelsea’s midfield, was particularly impressed with how James and his teammates limited PSG’s usual dominance through the middle of the park.

"They didn't give the three of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz time on the ball, when you give those guys time on the ball they will destroy you, that's what we did," he noted.

James’ performance will be especially satisfying on a personal level, having struggled with recurring injuries over the past two seasons.

Ahead of the upcoming campaign, Maresca will be hoping to keep James fit as Chelsea aim to compete strongly on all fronts.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com

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