Mauricio Pochettino hailed the return of Reece James after his assist for Chelsea’s winner, less than three minutes into his first appearance since December.
The club captain is now back from his hamstring injury which required surgery and Pochettino added the 24-year-old will be ready for England at Euro 2024.
‘Massive,’ Pochettino said of James. ‘It’s unlucky there are only two games ahead and it’s one week. He is our captain. We all love him.
‘We will see whether he will be fit and have a chance of making the Euros. He is doing well in the training sessions. If his coach in the national team believes he can cope with the competition, I think he will be ready.’
Pochettino also insisted he is happy at Chelsea despite raising the possibility of walking away from the club this summer as he clarified his comments made earlier this week.
Mauricio Pochettino was happy to see Reece James and insists he’s happy to stay at the club
Chelsea skipper James laid on the assist for the Blues winner on his return from injury
‘I never said I am not happy,’ Pochettino said.
‘I never said that. I said maybe I am not happy, maybe I am happy. But it’s normal, the headline. Sometimes too much honesty when I’m talking but it’s not a problem. I have one year more on my contract.
‘Like I said yesterday, I’m thinking always in long-term, thinking that it’s going to be for life here. We are professional. We try to win games. We are trying to make the owners happy and the staff. I am responsible for all of the staff at the training ground in Cobham.
‘I try to make the players happy and the fans. That is my job. Easy [laughs]. So easy.’
