Chelsea captain Reece James has had to learn some lessons as a footballer the hard way.
James will say that he has been quite fortunate. At 26, he has already had a very successful career.
At Chelsea, the defender has won the Champions League, Club World Cup, Conference League and UEFA Super Cup. He has also played for his country on 22 occasions.
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Cole Palmer of Chelsea (L) celebrates scoring
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Yet things have not always been plain sailing for James, largely because of all of his past injuries.
Calum McFarlane, Interim Manager of Chelsea, and Reece James of Chelsea interact
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Reece James has learnt how to manage his body better
For a large part of his Chelsea career, James has struggled to stay fit. However, the right-back has revealed that as he has grown older, he has started to understand what is good and bad for his body.
On the latest episode of CFC Unlocked, which can be viewed on Chelsea’s official club website, the 26-year-old said: “The more games you play, the more you adapt. When I first got onto the scene, there wasn’t much of a routine, I wouldn’t say.
“As I have got older and learned and understood my body more, I’ve tried things and learned, ‘I don’t really like this, I don’t feel good when I do this.'”
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Reece James speaks with Marc Cucurella during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge
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Another lesson that James has had to learn is that captains have to do more in the dressing room than everyone else.
Enzo Maresca was very critical of James at one stage for what he perceived as a lack of leadership behind the scenes.
Maresca made the point publicly, so it certainly was another tough lesson for James. However, it did not seem to impact him too much.
James remained Chelsea skipper under Maresca and captained the Blues to two major honours.
Reece James of Chelsea speaks to teammates
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Reece James’ injury woes now fully a thing of the past
Whatever James has learnt about his body and addressed has clearly worked. The Englishman rarely gets injured these days.
This season, James has already made 31 appearances. Last term, he played 32 times in all competitions. It is amazing for a player who could not stay on the pitch for more than an hour at one point.
James is the Chelsea captain and one of the team’s best players. The England international needs to stay fit, and thankfully that has been the case.
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