Mikel hails Reece James as ‘really good’ in Club World Cup final vs PSG
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has praised Reece James for his standout performance in an unfamiliar midfield role during the Blues’ 3-0 dismantling of Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Deployed centrally by manager Enzo Maresca, James impressed with his composure, tactical discipline, and physicality, effectively neutralising PSG’s trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz.
The 25-year-old captain formed a robust midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo, while Enzo Fernandez operated just ahead of them.
Speaking on DAZN, Mikel lauded the tactical gamble:
“The manager probably tried it a day before in training.
“Sometimes, if a manager sees it works, he’ll go with it. Reece was really good, strong, intelligent, composed. He complemented Caicedo excellently.”
Mikel, who made over 370 appearances for Chelsea, also noted how the tactical shift disrupted PSG’s flow.
“We didn’t give Vitinha and the others time on the ball. When you do, they’ll destroy you. But Reece and the midfield suffocated them. That was key to the win.”
James’ performance comes as a welcome sign after two injury-ridden seasons.
His fitness will be critical for Chelsea as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign under Maresca, who clearly sees the club captain as a versatile asset in his tactical setup.
