The 2021/22 season has been one of big chances and nearly moments for Chelsea, who won two pieces of silverware and earned the title of Champions of the World, but were denied in cruel fashion across a number of competitions. The Blues’ early pace in the Premier League title race dropped off in the new year, while Real Madrid denied their Champions League title defence.
In both domestic cups, Thomas Tuchel guided his men to the final, only to be denied by Liverpool on penalties… twice. Despite that, there have been plenty of positives to take from the campaign, one of which are the performances of Reece James.
The academy graduate has been an influential figure for the Blues on the pitch this season, finding a flurry of goals early on in the league. It’s no coincidence that the side’s drop in form came in conjunction with the defender being on the sidelines with injury.
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The England international has impressed so much, both as a wing-back and a centre-back, that Tuchel has claimed that he wishes he could clone him. “I would love to have two of Reece James, that would solve the problem, it’s like 50% towards wing-back and 45% towards the back three," he said.
On Thursday, James registered his eighth assist of the Premier League season, setting up Marcos Alonso for the equaliser against the Foxes. That took his tally to 13 goal involvements for the campaign, the second most for a defender.
That places the Chelsea defender between two of Liverpool’s, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leading the way with 14 and Andy Robertson in third with 12. However, one key point to make is that the two players from the Merseyside outfit have played many more minutes this season, due to James’ injuries.
The Chelsea defender has managed 1,775 minutes this season, per Squawka, while Robertson has managed 2,451 and Alexander-Arnold is in front with 2,763 minutes. That means James has managed one goal involvement every 136 minutes of action this season, or one every game and a half or so.
As for Alexander-Arnold, he has one involvement every 197 minutes, while Robertson is one every 204 minutes. It shows just how in-form the Chelsea defender has been when available, though it also begs the question of how much better the side would have been with him fully fit this season.
With discussions over his Chelsea future still in the forefront of the mind, his stats show just how crucial it is for the Blues to sign James up to a long-term deal when they are able to do so.
