Chelsea host Ajax this week in the Champions League, and the last time they met, it was an unforgettable spectacle.
On Wednesday night, Enzo Maresca’s side welcome Dutch giants Ajax to Stamford Bridge in the league phase of this season’s Champions League.
Opta rated Chelsea as sixth favourites to win the Champions League before the competition commenced in the 2025-26 campaign. So far, the Blues suffered a defeat away to Bayern Munich but beat Benfica at home.
It feels like an important moment against Ajax to collect another three points. If they finish in the top eight of the league, they will progress straight to the Round of 16. If not, they could enter the knockout play-offs.
Reece James celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Ajax in the Champions League.
Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images
What Frank Lampard said about Reece James after famous Chelsea goal
On 5 November 2019, Chelsea came from 4-1 behind to grab a 4-4 draw at home to Ajax in the Champions League group stages.
Reece James, who was just 18 at the time, came off the bench to score the equaliser and make it 4-4. It was certainly one of the more memorable games during Frank Lampard‘s spell as the Blues head coach.
After Chelsea’s win against Ajax, Lampard said via Football.London: “Reece is a fantastic young player. He gives what you saw and he can give even more, which is normal. I felt we needed to change to get more on the right-hand side, get Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) on the left and Reece can deliver crosses. Great quality. Powerful and can join in, he knows we have Azpi there who is our captain and plays right back, but it shows there are things we can do to change if Reece does that then he is a great player. He is going to be a top player for the club.
“He has got great quality. Modern full-backs expected now to join in, be a threat going forward and some in the Premier League are doing it in an outstanding way. Hopefully Reece can do it for us.”
When James broke into the first team under Lampard in 2019, he was an athletic young right-back whose stock had risen after a superb loan in the Championship with Wigan Athletic. If you compare that to the modern day, the academy graduate is now club captain and extremely versatile with his positioning.
We don’t see the England international play as often as an attack-minded right-back, partly down to managing his workload due to his injury problems, but he’s still quality in the final third when he arrives there.
James has now scored 15 goals and provided 26 assists in 200 first-team appearances for Chelsea, which are numbers we think can shoot up in the years to come.
The secret to James keeping fit in 2025 has been that he’s worked closely with someone behind the scenes at Cobham. Whatever they are doing, fans will hope it continues because he elevates the team massively.
Willian, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham celebrate after Chelsea's goal against Ajax in the Champions League.
Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images
Reece James prediction was spot on
Like Lampard predicted, James has kicked on and emerged as a key player for Chelsea.
There have been some truly outstanding right-backs to play for the Blues in the 21st century, including the likes of Paulo Ferreira, Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic. By the time he retires, James has the potential to top them all in terms of legacy.
The current captain is building up his medal count, winning five major trophies to date. In addition, he’s capable of operating at a world-class level whenever he’s on the football pitch, both defensively and offensively.
We’re sure James will be desperate to play against Ajax to reignite the memories of his goal nearly six years ago, but we suspect he may be rested for the weekend’s Premier League fixture at home to Sunderland.