We took a step back
Chelsea captain Reece James protests: This was not a qualification
Reece James is not at all satisfied with Chelsea’s performance against Legia Warsaw.
According to reports, Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a 4-2 aggregate win over Legia Warsaw, thanks to a 3-0 victory in the first leg last week. However, their performance at Stamford Bridge was disastrous.
Legia, currently fifth in the Polish league table, dominated the match, while Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson continued their goal droughts in this crucial fixture for the Blues.
This poor display came despite Enzo Maresca fielding a nearly full-strength lineup. The Blues face Fulham in a decisive match on Sunday as they push for a Champions League spot.
James, who played the full 90 minutes as he continues to regain fitness after returning from injury in January, expressed his dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s performance.
Visibly upset after the match, he said: “We have no excuses. This was not a qualification for us. In fact, it was a step backward. It will definitely affect the team’s mentality. It will linger in the back of everyone’s minds. We lost when we shouldn’t have, and we need to address this situation.”