In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, Chelsea defender Reece James gave his thoughts on the recent alleged racist incident involving Enzo in the team and his expectations for the new season.
On Enzo's racist incident, Reece James said, "It's a really difficult and sensitive situation. There is no place for racism on a soccer pitch. I am glad that Enzo was able to quickly recognize his mistake and apologize to all those who were offended. I think his apology was sincere and the best response he could have given in that situation. We all look forward to things working out and allowing the team to move forward with the season as one."
Meanwhile, Reese James also revealed how he interacted with Enzo: "Our communication was more limited because we were in different time zones, but I had the opportunity to talk to him for a while. He expressed to me his thoughts on what happened and tried to explain his situation and how it happened. I believe that with time we will be able to understand each other better and work together for the future of the team."
Speaking about his appearances in the Premier League over the past two seasons, Reece James said, "Over the past two seasons, I haven't made many appearances in the Premier League for a variety of reasons. This made me feel a bit frustrated, and I even sometimes doubted whether I could reach a higher level. But lately, I've been getting my confidence back and that fear of the game has disappeared. I now feel freer and more focused on my performance."
On his changing role in the team for the new season, Reece James said, "The new season will be a new challenge for me. Coach Maresca may ask me to try out an inside-out role, which is not new to me as I have played in midfield as a child and during my loan spells. I believe this change will provide me with more room to play and give me the opportunity to play a more important role in the game. Of course, it will also require me to become more familiar and comfortable with my new position and responsibilities. But I believe that if we understand and adapt to our respective roles as early as possible, our team will be stronger and more unified."
