Reece James' personal coach rages over his new knee injury

12/28/2022

‘I need to bite my tongue… but I have A LOT to say’: Reece James’ personal coach rages over his new knee injury – and hints at issues at Chelsea – after problem forced him off just 53 minutes into return

Reece James’ personal trainer James Ralph is furious about his latest injury
James, 23, was forced off the pitch in the 53rd minute against Bournemouth
He appeared to injury the knee that ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar
Ralph said he is ‘biting his tongue’ but insists there is ‘a lot’ he wants to say

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 cryptic social media post.

The 23-year-old defender missed the World Cup for England after picking up an agonising 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.

Reece James was forced off injured in Chelsea’s clash with Bournemouth on Tuesday

It was his first game back after picking up a knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup

However, James failed to even make the hour mark before being replaced by Chelsea’s club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

James signalled to the bench to be substituted after injuring himself with what appeared to be an innocuous pass in the 49th minute.

James’ personal trainer, Ralph, was furious after the game and took to social media to make his feelings known.

James’ personal trainer, James Ralph, was furious after the game and took to social media to make his feelings known (above)

Ralph – who has experience working with the women’s England Rugby and the GB Modern Pentathlon team – has been working with James for 18 months

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 in 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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPfis0yHyTo/

A post shared by James Ralph ▪️ #GetTheEdge 🧨 (@jr_athletesedge)

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 obviously 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.

Ralph (pictured on the right with James on the left) wrote the following caption: ‘I need to bite my tongue despite having ALOT to say…’

Losing the 23-year-old full back to injury again could be a major blow for Graham Potter

‘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 realise 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 miss him.’

Chelsea still managed to secure a 2-0 win against Bournemouth despite James’ substitution and Potter will be hopefully they can win again against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

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