James' Check-In: Chelsea Captain Declares 'I'm Fine' Ahead of Barcelona Clash
23 November 2025
Chelsea's James Update and the Burnley Win
Chelsea captain Reece James provided a health update after their 2-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday, in the twelfth round of the Premier League.
While Liverpool and Manchester City stumbled after the international break, Enzo Maresca's side moved quietly toward the summit, closing to within three points of Arsenal after a comfortable-looking win.
Barça Clash on the Horizon
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandes scored in the two halves to seal the victory, giving Chelsea a third straight win and a third clean sheet, even though James left at half-time and did not play in the second period.
After featuring for England in the World Cup qualifiers, Maresca said James was taken off as a precautionary measure.
The manager explained the plan was to manage Reece's condition, and he was only intended to play 45 minutes.
Chelsea now head back to London to prepare for Tuesday's clash with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, with fans reassured after James posted on Instagram that he’s ready for the game. His message read that it was a different kind of match but a big win, and that he’s fine, see you Tuesday.
Maesca also praised his squad's early-week work, confirming four changes from the win over Wolverhampton, including keeping Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo on the bench after a demanding international schedule.
“It was a tough game for several reasons, after the international break, at noon, and the pitch’s quality added to it. We had to manage the players’ effort, and overall we deserved the win,” he said.
“The way the players competed and the clean sheet again — that’s a credit to the group. We were happy with the performance as a whole,” he added.
Chelsea now return to London to prepare for Barcelona on Tuesday and Arsenal at the weekend, as they push a run of eight wins in ten across all competitions.
Maresca closed with: “We are confident, we’re performing well. Today could have been better in some moments, but winning was the priority. We’re ready for Tuesday and Sunday.”
Pedro Neto was among the standout performers, scoring the opener with a great header and expressing relief at securing three points away from home on a difficult ground.
“It felt like a relief. Winning away 1-0 is always tough. We played with high energy and kept a clean sheet, so we’re very happy,” Neto said.
He recalled a funny moment from pre-match: “In yesterday’s training I headed a cross badly and the guys teased me. Today I headed in a wonderful cross, and I’m glad I helped the team.”
Neto added that the win matters ahead of a tough week facing Barca and Arsenal, and that the squad’s togetherness is paying off.
André Santos, the promising Brazilian, said he was thrilled to complete 90 minutes for the first time this season and emphasized his focus on helping the team to collect points.
“I’m very happy to have played 90 minutes and to help my teammates. The most important thing is the victory, and I’m happy with the three points,” he said.
He praised his teammates’ support, saying it makes playing easier and that the win was a collective effort. Santos reiterated that sentiment after the final whistle.
Two punchlines to brighten the locker room: 1) If football is a game of inches, Chelsea’s inches are turning into miles lately. 2) Reece James is so fit that even the physio started an Instagram poll about his availability for Tuesday.
