Reece James thoughts on a below par season for the Blues

Reece James accepts that this current season for the Blues has been below standards and expectations 

Chelsea skipper Reece James accepts that the 2025/26 premier league campaign has been disappointment and underwhelming for the Blues and insists that there is room for improvement and lots to learn  next season under new manager Xabi Alonso. 

A painful 2-1 away defeat to Sunderland on the last day of the season resulted in Chelsea finishing 10th in the premier league resulting in the Blues missing out on European football next season. 

"We need to digest and process this season" said the 26 year old. " It's been below that standards and we need to review and see how we can improve for next time."

" Just the thought of us saying that we haven't qualified for Europe is something that does not sit well with us.. We are a club that has won numerous European trophies and this season we haven't qualified and we have lots to learn and improve on."

Chelsea fell behind at Sunderland in the opening period when Trai Hume was on hand to guide a near  post half-volley past Robert Sanchez in the 25th minute. 

An unfortunate Malo Gusto own goal gave Sunderland a 2 goal advantage. However, a ferocious Cole Palmer strike gave the Blue's some hope of coming back into the game. 

Unfortunately any hopes of the Blue's salvaging anything from the game were made difficult with the sending off of Wesley Fofana and with a man disadvantage and for more than 30 minutes the Blues were unable to find  the equaliser they needed to secure in a place in  the Europa League next season. 

Upon further reflection of the Blue's campaign Reece James went onto say " I think that the defeat at Sunderland is an accurate picture of how our season has gone. We have underachieved and we had chances in the first half and we didn't take them. I feel as though if we had taken our chances then the game would have been different."

" I never felt that the game was over until the 100th minute when the whistle blew. We just lacked final touches."

James who will represent England at this summers world cup and his Chelsea team mates will return for pre-season with a new manager at the helm in Xabi Alonso whose appointment was confirmed last weekend. 

When asked about the ambitions and expectations at Chelsea Reece James replied saying " where Chelsea have always been which is competing and winning titles and in Europe. These are the basics the bare minimum requirements at this club."