‘I need to bite my tongue… but I have a LOT to say’ – Reece James’ personal trainer fumes over latest Chelsea injury
- last year
Reece James' personal trainer James Ralph has fumed about the right-back's latest injury and suggested there were issues at Chelsea by saying he is 'biting his tongue' in a now-deleted social media post.
The 23-year-old defender missed the World Cup for England after picking up an agonizing knee injury but there were hopes he could push on in 2023 after returning to action in the club's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday - before picking up another issue and needing to be taken off after just 53 minutes.
The Premier League fixture marked his first game back for Chelsea since he sustained the original problem during a 2-0 win over AC Milan in October - with the player working right up to the final moment on his recovery before admitting defeat in his race for fitness.
However, James failed to even make the hour mark before being replaced by Chelsea's club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
He posted the following comment on his company Instagram page Jr_athletesedge: 'I need to bite my tongue despite having ALOT to say…'.
Ralph - who has experience working with the women's England Rugby and the GB Modern Pentathlon team - added three frustrated-looking emoji's alongside his text.
Ralph began working with James around 18 months ago - posting videos of himself and the right back on his social media page.
The personal trainer - who claims to have a 'no-nonsense style' - regularly shares content from the gym, James' house, and the football pitch.
The pair appear to have a good working relationship as they are seen laughing and joking in between sets.
Ralph - who has worked with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori - described James as a 'hugely dominant athlete' with the 'perfect work ethic'.
It comes as no surprise he is frustrated to see the 23-year-old sidelined through injury again.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter appeared to be equally as frustrated with James' injury - claiming he was 'concerned' about right-back directly after the game.
However, Potter said the club must wait '24-48 hours' to understand the full extent of James' injury.
Potter said: '[It's] too soon,' he said. 'It's the same area, so we are concerned. We will have to wait for the next 24-48 hours.
'There was a sort of chop and he felt something there. We will have to see the extent of it. At the moment we are just at a stage of hoping it isn't as bad and keeping our fingers crossed.
'The plan was not for him to play 90 tonight. He was going to play 60-65 minutes which was a build-up to what he did previously.
'He's disappointed, of course, at the moment. We just have to hope it's not as bad as it was, and he can get a speedier recovery.'
When asked how important James was to his plans at Chelsea, Potter added: 'Reece is a world-class player. You see it from the outside, but it's not until you work with him that you realize how good he is.
'He's an incredible player. He would fit into any team in the world. He can play in any team in the world, so any team would
The 23-year-old defender missed the World Cup for England after picking up an agonizing knee injury but there were hopes he could push on in 2023 after returning to action in the club's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday - before picking up another issue and needing to be taken off after just 53 minutes.
The Premier League fixture marked his first game back for Chelsea since he sustained the original problem during a 2-0 win over AC Milan in October - with the player working right up to the final moment on his recovery before admitting defeat in his race for fitness.
However, James failed to even make the hour mark before being replaced by Chelsea's club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
He posted the following comment on his company Instagram page Jr_athletesedge: 'I need to bite my tongue despite having ALOT to say…'.
Ralph - who has experience working with the women's England Rugby and the GB Modern Pentathlon team - added three frustrated-looking emoji's alongside his text.
Ralph began working with James around 18 months ago - posting videos of himself and the right back on his social media page.
The personal trainer - who claims to have a 'no-nonsense style' - regularly shares content from the gym, James' house, and the football pitch.
The pair appear to have a good working relationship as they are seen laughing and joking in between sets.
Ralph - who has worked with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori - described James as a 'hugely dominant athlete' with the 'perfect work ethic'.
It comes as no surprise he is frustrated to see the 23-year-old sidelined through injury again.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter appeared to be equally as frustrated with James' injury - claiming he was 'concerned' about right-back directly after the game.
However, Potter said the club must wait '24-48 hours' to understand the full extent of James' injury.
Potter said: '[It's] too soon,' he said. 'It's the same area, so we are concerned. We will have to wait for the next 24-48 hours.
'There was a sort of chop and he felt something there. We will have to see the extent of it. At the moment we are just at a stage of hoping it isn't as bad and keeping our fingers crossed.
'The plan was not for him to play 90 tonight. He was going to play 60-65 minutes which was a build-up to what he did previously.
'He's disappointed, of course, at the moment. We just have to hope it's not as bad as it was, and he can get a speedier recovery.'
When asked how important James was to his plans at Chelsea, Potter added: 'Reece is a world-class player. You see it from the outside, but it's not until you work with him that you realize how good he is.
'He's an incredible player. He would fit into any team in the world. He can play in any team in the world, so any team would