Enzo Maresca full-time reaction speaks volumes as Reece James loses it in Chelsea victory

Big games require big-game players. Sounds obvious. Chelsea had a few of them on the pitch: Reece James, Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, in particular.

Caicedo did his job; intercepting seemingly every loose ball, not allowing Bruno Fernandes to get into his groove too much for a Manchester United that rely massively on their captain. Palmer was bright but lacked the cutting edge, although could have easily had himself two assists for Noni Madueke. James, meanwhile, took the game upon his own shoulders.

Enzo Maresca spoke earlier in the season about the 25-year-old needing to show more as a captain and grow into the armband, so to speak. Nowadays, there is no questioning James' credential as skipper. Just as he did against Bournemouth in January, James decided the game. Marc Cucurella was the man who scored the match-winning goal, with what has come to become, bizarrely, a typical header, but it is James we need to talk about.

A truly magic piece of football from a truly magic footballer. James picked up the ball on the edge of the box on the right-hand side, and then saw Alejandro Garnacho start to press him. James swivelled with the ball at his feet to leave Garnacho running away and then the captain looked up, saw Cucurella's run and delivered an inch-perfect delivery.

James lost it in the aftermath. His celebration was as passionate as it gets. He lost it, but ironically he won it.

Chelsea's X account summed it up rather perfectly: "Reece James that was unbelievable." It truly was. It was the moment that could determine Chelsea's European fate next season - yes, it was that big.

While it ended up being the perfect result for Chelsea, it was by no means the ideal performance. Enzo Maresca admitted after the game that United surprised him and his players with their aggressive man-to-man approach. And that told, with the Blues uncharacteristically sloppy in possession.

Tyrique George deputised for Nicolas Jackson, who served the first game of his three-match suspension after he was sent off last weekend. George is no stranger to being used as a No.9 in this system but it felt like the teenager was very isolated. Whenever the ball did come up to him, he was unable to make it stick but the blame cannot really be on him.

Maresca seemed happy with George's performance in his post-match press conference and even said "100%" when asked if he did enough to keep his place against Nottingham Forest next weekend. There has to, though, be some serious consideration for Pedro Neto being used down the middle at the City Ground.

It proved to be a solution earlier in the season when Jackson was sidelined due to injury, with Neto impressing while showing his adaptability and versatility. Jadon Sancho will be back in the squad next weekend, too, so we could see George drop out of the side altogether.

Forest will likely be deeper than what we saw from Amorim's side on Friday. United played a mid-to-low block at Stamford Bridge and it frustrated Maresca's team. Forest, who have used a low block for most of the season, will be well aware of this when preparing for the visit of the Blues in eight days' time.

Unlike United, though, Forest will have quality and decisiveness in transition. United had countless opportunities to break on Chelsea on Friday but their lack of end product was there for everyone to see. Forest have been one of the best counter-attacking teams in the Premier League this season, so Chelsea will certainly have to fix up in that department.

The full-time scenes spoke to the enormity of the three points on Friday night. Maresca, alongside Willy Caballero and the rest of the coaching staff, formed a huddle and jumped up and down as emotions poured following a significant victory.

It was about as animated as we have seen Maresca this season. I've got a feeling that could be overtaken should Chelsea claim all three points in Nottingham next weekend and reclaim their place amongst Europe's elite. One more game.

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