Man City 3 Leeds United 2: Lee Sobot's Video Verdict
Enzo Maresca is preparing to take his Chelsea side to Leeds United on Wednesday.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admits Reece James will not be able to play 90 minutes against Leeds United this week having done so against Arsenal on Sunday.
James started and finished Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal in central midfield and covered huge ground, having seen teammate Moises Caicedo sent off on 38 minutes. The 25-year-old has overcome long-term injury issues to remain fit all season but is still being carefully managed, only once following a 90-minute weekend appearance with another in midweek.
That was a Saturday-Wednesday combination in November but James will have a day less to recover this time round, having played Arsenal on Sunday before a Wednesday trip to West Yorkshire. There is also the greater physical demand placed on the England international to consider, given he played in central midfield for a 10-man team for over 50 minutes.
Chelsea have issues in the middle of the park, with Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo out injured while Caicedo’s red card on Sunday means he is suspended for the midweek trip to Leeds. And Maresca is unlikely to be able to call on James for another full-game stint at Elland Road.
Asked if James could follow Sunday’s 90 minutes with another full game in midweek, Maresca told Football.London: “No. No, the reality is no. Robert [Sanchez] was very good. When you are with 10 players against Arsenal, for sure if you want to take a point or win the game, you need some special performance, like Robert, like Reece, as you said.
“So we are very happy with Robert's performance. Reece, now, his performance has been fantastic, top. Now, we have a game on Wednesday. For him, very good. We need to manage him, we need to control him, we need to control a little bit his situation. But he was very good tonight.
Chelsea boss on huge Arsenal effort ahead of Leeds United trip
“For sure, [I am most proud of] the effort of the players. Arsenal, they are top of Premier League, top of Champions League, best defenders in the Premier League, probably best defenders in Champions League. I think 11v11, we were better than them. Then with 10 players again, changed the dynamic. So, the effort from the players has been outstanding.”
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James and his Chelsea teammates will be feeling the effects of an intense London Derby over the coming days after producing a massive physical effort to earn a point against Arsenal with 10 men. That is something Leeds will hope to take advantage of, having played 24 hours prior at Manchester City.
Leeds were also pushed to their physical limits in a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad, albeit with 11 men on the pitch. Daniel Farke’s side fought back from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 in the second-half, courtesy of goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, but eventually fell victim to an added-time winner from Phil Foden.
Farke revealed after the defeat that winger Dan James, taken off at half-time, suffered a hamstring issue and he is therefore a doubt for Wednesday. Anton Stach is also a doubt after missing the City game with concussion while Sean Longstaff is expected to be out for four to six weeks with a calf injury.
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