Chelsea’s skipper, Reece James, believes that their triumph over Benfica highlighted the team’s growing maturity during Saturday’s clash.
The victory came in extra time, following an almost two-hour delay caused by a thunderstorm at the 85-minute mark.
Ultimately, Chelsea secured a commanding 4-1 win in their round of 16 match of the Club World Cup, with James contributing to the scoreline.
Reflecting on the match, he remarked, “We’ve made significant progress. It’s tough to be on the brink of the final moments and then face such a setback.”
“To rally, regroup, and net several goals truly illustrates how far we’ve advanced, and everyone contributed today.”
“It was an extremely challenging encounter with numerous interruptions. The weather conditions were far from ideal, the pitch was difficult to navigate, and we found ourselves at 85 minutes halted for an extended period.”
“Cooling down and then reigniting that energy takes a toll on the players, but we’re pleased to have finished the task.”
On his goal, James shared, “As I approached, I spoke with the centre-backs and asked what they preferred. They requested either a shot, a cross, or an in-swinger, and I replied, ‘No worries.’
“When I reached the ball and noticed the goalkeeper’s positioning, he afforded me too much of the net. So, I opted to shoot, and it found the back of the net.”
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