Reece James will miss Chelsea’s final-day clash with Newcastle on Sunday (Picture: Getty)
Reece James has confidently predicted that Chelsea will challenge for trophies next season, with Mauricio Pochettino set to come in as boss.
The Blues have endured a miserable 2022-23 campaign and will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table no matter the result of Sunday’s final match against Newcastle – with the west Londoners crashing out of all the cups.
Chelsea started the campaign under head coach Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked and replaced with Graham Potter in September, before he was also dismissed and Frank Lampard was given the job on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
The club are now expected to formally announce the arrival of Pochettino imminently having reached a full agreement with the former Tottenham boss, who will look to make an immediate impact and bring glory back to Chelsea.
Blues right-back James sees no reason why Chelsea can’t challenge for trophies in 2023-24 as he posted on Instagram: ‘I’m sure you’ve seen the news (about an injury that will rule him out for the clash against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge).
‘I won’t be back for the last game of the season. It’s been tough for me. I’m sorry this season hasn’t gone as we all wanted.
‘Next season I’ll be back stronger than ever, and we’ll be back fighting for trophies! Stay well and see you soon. Love you all.’
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Chelsea have spent over £600m on players since Todd Boehly arrived as co-owner in the summer in what has been a turbulent period for the club.
But James, speaking back in February, has predicted that Chelsea will become ‘one of the best teams in the world’ once their new stars have settled.
‘I don’t think there’s a trophy we can’t win,’ the England international said. ‘With all the young players, once we have played together for a longer period of time I think we’re going to be one of the best teams in the world.’
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‘We’ll be back fighting for trophies!’
