The match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona saw Chelsea ultimately secure a 3-2 victory thanks to a brace from João Pedro, ensuring a top-eight finish and direct entry to the round of 16 while sending Antonio Conte’s Napoli crashing out of the competition. However, the game was far from smooth for the Blues, who fell behind early before rallying.
Vergara, the 23-year-old Italian attacking midfielder making only his fifth senior goal appearance for his boyhood club, produced a moment of individual brilliance to level the scores at 1-1 in the first half. After a delicate spin and turn in the box, he smashed a left-footed shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez from close range, exploiting space and outmaneuvering defenders.
In comments shared in Chelsea’s post-match media debrief (and echoed across social platforms and fan forums), James was scathing about the defensive lapse leading to the goal. “That goal doesn’t happen if we do our jobs properly,” he stated bluntly. “One of our guys switched off completely—didn’t track the run, left the space wide open, and let Vergara spin and finish like that. He’s the main reason it went in; we can’t afford those individual errors at this level.”
While James did not name the teammate publicly in the immediate quotes, match analysis and fan breakdowns (including Reddit threads and player ratings) heavily pointed to Wesley Fofana as the player in question. Reports described how Vergara “took on Fofana and smashed home,” with the French centre-back failing to close down the spin or block the shot effectively. Fofana’s performance drew criticism in several outlets, with one rating him low for the “sloppy bit of play” that presented Napoli the opportunity they capitalized on.
The accusation adds fuel to ongoing tensions within Chelsea’s squad amid a season of inconsistency. Despite the win, Chelsea have shown vulnerabilities, particularly in transition and set-piece defending—issues that have plagued them domestically as well. James, who started at right-back (and occasionally shifted centrally) and struck a free-kick against the bar early on, has been vocal about standards since returning from injury spells.
Conte’s Napoli, despite the exit, impressed with their fight, and Vergara’s goal was hailed as a “great” and “incredible” individual effort by commentators. The young midfielder, valued at around €2.5m and primarily an attacking midfielder/right winger, has been a breakout prospect for the Partenopei.
James’s frank words come at a time when Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior (in this timeline’s setup) faces scrutiny over defensive organization. The captain’s comments may serve as motivation for improvement ahead of a crucial Premier League run, but they also risk highlighting internal divisions if not addressed swiftly.
The victory keeps Chelsea’s Champions League hopes alive and strong, but James’s blunt assessment ensures the focus remains on eliminating costly individual mistakes. As one of the club’s longest-serving and most respected voices, his words carry weight—teammates will be under pressure to respond in upcoming fixtures.
