Football news LIVE: Arsenal-linked Kimmich agrees new deal, Maresca sees James as midfielder, Spurs handed another injury blow

New function?

Enzo Maresca has revealed that he believes Reece James is a midfielder and never a defender.

James has spent his profession as a right-back, proper wing-back or a centre-back as a part of a three-at-the-back system.

However Maresca has began to play him additional ahead and in a midfield function, and that is the place he performed this night.

The Chelsea captain was alongside Moises Caicedo in entrance of the defence, scoring in a 2-1 win towards Copenhagen.

Talking post-match about James’ new function, the Blues boss stated: “We all know how necessary he’s for us.

“He is our captain, a improbable participant. We want him match, so that’s our responsibility, our goal as a result of for certain he’s going to assist us.

“He can play in lots of positions as a result of the great gamers can play in lots of positions.

“You’ll be able to ask Reece, once I signed for Chelsea, the day after I despatched him a video about seeing him as a midfielder.

“I see Reece as a midfielder. Since day one. I despatched him a clip when he was on vacation about how he generally is a midfielder.

“He has performed in full-back, central defender, so the primary goal for us is to maintain him match.”

Maresca added: “To start with, once you watch a participant you typically want to make use of creativeness and imagining a participant doing one thing.

“I watched a few of his video games when he was on mortgage at Wigan the place he scored a improbable aim from 25 or 30 metres.

“The very best factor about Reece for the time being is he’s serving to the crew with management.”