REECE JAMES was overheard delivering a passionate half-time speech that inspired Chelsea’s Conference League final comeback.
The Blues came from 1-0 down at the break to beat Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Captain James was named on the bench but come on at the interval to replace Malo Gusto.
TNT Sports reporter Becky Ives claimed she could hear the right-back rallying the troops inside the changing room at half-time.
She told him: “I heard you in the dressing room really geeing up the team.”
And it made all the difference as Chelsea put in a stunning second-half performance to clinch glory.
Asked by Ives about his battle cry, James replied: “I thought in the first-half we were very flat.
“The game did not go our way early on and it looked like it took a lot out of us.
“We needed a reaction in the second-half and we got it.”
On not being named in the starting XI, James said: “It’s devastating to know you’re not playing in the final or not starting.
“I want to play every game but it was the manager’s decision and once he made the decision, I need to accept it and move on and be ready to come in if I’m needed.”
Enzo Maresca revealed after the game that he did not start James amid fears of him suffering another injury.
He explained: “I promise you, I will start always with Reece, but I’m trying to protect him.
“He plays more games this season than the last two or three. He knows that.
“But he is a top player for us, he is like Cole [Palmer], but the problem is we need to manage him.
“When we change him he said, ‘boss don’t worry, we are going to win the game’.”
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