DAWN OF A BLUE ERA

James wants Euro trophy clean sweep to kick-start Blues' return to glory years under Maresca

- FROM JOHN CROSS

REECE JAMES believes Chelsea can kick-start a new era of success with a full set of European silverware.

Chelsea captain James was part of the Champions League-winning squad in 2021.

The club have won just about everything in the past 20 years, from Premier League titles to FA Cups and European Super Cups.

But the Europa Conference League would be a new trophy even for Chelsea's cabinet and they would also become the first club to win the lot.

That might not be the biggest badge of honour because Real Madrid and Co would see it as a failure just to be playing in the Conference League.

But if Chelsea get their hands on this trophy, then James believes it could launch a period of success for a new generation and a chance to repeat the glory days of the Roman Abramovich era. James said: "It's been a few years since we've got our hands on silverware.