Phil Foden and Dom Solanke react to Reece James’ message after Chelsea masterclass
Chelsea captain Reece James was left upbeat in a social media message after the side advanced to the Club World Cup final.
Chelsea have booked their place in yet another major final after seeing off Brazilian side Fluminense with a convincing 2-0 win.
Joao Pedro was the standout performer, scoring both goals on his full debut against his former club, delivering a clinical display in attack.
However, the game wasn’t without controversy. Fluminense had a penalty shout overturned by VAR following a handball incident, which left former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett furious. He labelled the decision “a deliberate” handball and criticised the referee’s handling of the situation.
Despite the debate, the Blues move on and will now prepare to face either Real Madrid or Champions League winners PSG in the final.
Following the win, captain James shared a message of motivation and determination with the fans, reflecting the team’s focus heading into the final.
Premier League stars react to Reece James as Chelsea reach Club World Cup final
James posted on Instagram after Chelsea’s win as he reached yet another final with the club and edges closer to lifting more silverware.
He captioned his post: “another competition, another final. see you on Sunday.”
His message received plenty of support, with Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke and newly free agent Callum Wilson all liking the post.
James’ Chelsea teammates also showed their appreciation, with Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap among those engaging with the message.
Fitness has been a concern for James throughout the Club World Cup. He missed the quarter-final against Palmeiras and came off the bench in the recent victory.
Still, his influence has been evident—highlighted by James’ stunning free-kick against Benfica in the round of 16.
The England international has once again battled injury setbacks, missing 22 games in the 2024/25 campaign, following on from the 38 he missed the season before. Yet, when fit, he remains a vital presence for Chelsea on and off the pitch.
| Appearances per season | Reece James |
| 2024/25 | 31 |
| 2023/24 | 11 |
| 2022/23 | 24 |
| 2021/22 | 39 |
Chelsea face decision over Nicolas Jackson’s future
Despite Jackson’s public show of support for James, his long-term future at Stamford Bridge is now in doubt.
Football Insider revealed that Aston Villa have made a preliminary move for Jackson, with the expectation that his role could be diminished next season.
Although Enzo Maresca is said to prefer keeping Jackson in the squad, the forward has slipped down the pecking order following the arrivals of Pedro and Delap. Whether that leads to a summer departure remains to be seen.