Chelsea talent factory strikes again as James shows pedigree
Youngster compared with Beckham shines on his full debut, writes Jon West at Stamford Bridge
It has been quite a week for Reece James, the right-back who has made Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side even younger. On Tuesday, as a substitute, the 19-year-old became the club’s youngest Champions League scorer; on Saturday he made his first Premier League start in Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. In between he was likened to David Beckham, by none other than Joe Cole.
James, who ended his spell on loan at Wigan last season with an armful of awards, was tasked with nullifying the threat of Wilfried Zaha, and did just that, performing so effectively that an uneducated onlooker, on being told that one man had 176 top-flight appearances and the other none, would have seen the Palace man as the rookie.
Cole’s comments referred specifically to James’s ability to provide accurate crosses, which he demonstrated just before half-time with a devastating low delivery, although Gary Cahill, on his Stamford Bridge return, was able to block the shot that followed.
But it was his defensive qualities that shone brightest. James showed himself to be fast, strong and supremely comfortable on the ball under pressure. He was also quick to sense danger.
His emerged victorious from his first tussle with Zaha and another soon after allowed Willian to nick the ball off the Palace talisman, who was booked for an attempt to retrieve possession.
True, the newcomer did not have it all his own way – Zaha robbed him in the Chelsea box when he tried to play his way out – but the Ivory Coast winger could make nothing of those rare moments of superiority. The day belonged to James and his team – Chelsea’s youngest Premier League XI, with an average age of 24 years and 88 days.
“I have known him since we were eight years old from the academy,” said midfielder Mason Mount. “He’s a very quiet boy. He has tremendous qualities and will be a great player. I call him ‘The Beast’ as he is so strong, quick and powerful. You don’t want to get too close to him in training because he will get you off the ball. It’s best to stay away from him.”
Mount has already become a senior England staple on the back of being championed at club level by Lampard, and the same applies to striker Tammy Abraham and centre-back Fikayo Tomori. Gareth Southgate already has plenty of quality right-backs, of course, but looks like having another soon. “He’s got the ability to go very, very far,” Lampard said of James.
“I saw it last year and I’m seeing it now in training. When you see experienced players respect young players who come and train with them, it’s always a good sign.”
Marcos Alonso was the man who made way for James in the 4-4 draw with Ajax. Cesar Azpilicueta switched to left-back on that occasion, but the captain spent all of the Palace game watching from the bench, with Willian wearing the armband. “He took it as I thought he would, as a perfect professional,” Lampard said of the Spaniard. “He had played every minute of every game this season, barring the EFL Cup. So I don’t think it was the worst for him to have a rest. We’ve got massive games coming up after the break.”
It took Chelsea 52 minutes to score the goal that set them on their way to a sixth straight league win. Willian’s cushioned ball round the corner from Matteo Kovacic’s pass gave Abraham the simple task of slotting past Vicente Guaita.
The 22-year-old has 10 goals in 14 Premier League games, making him Chelsea’s second youngest player to reach double figures in the competition, after Arjen Robben. Only Diego Costa, who needed nine games, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who required 11, did so in fewer games.
Christian Pulisic headed home a clinching second in the 79th minute, after a shot from Michy Batshuayi, Abraham’s replacement, reared up off a defender.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson acknowledged James’s taming of Zaha. “I thought it was a good battle,” he said. “He made life very difficult for Wilf, so congratulations to him. We held our own quite well. The second goal was the unfortunate one. The block could have gone anywhere but it looped up nicely for Pulisic.”