Enzo Maresca rang the changes for Chelsea's clash with Qarabag as they could only draw on Wednesday night, but his rotation is a method that's being backed by the Blues' hierarchy
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is being actively encouraged to rotate his squad by the club's hierarchy after his much-changed side could only draw with Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Blues opened the scoring but then found themselves trailing to the side from Azerbaijan before Alejandro Garnacho equalised in the second half. Maresca has made seven or more changes to his line up in five successive games, including in Chelsea's recent stalemate.
Chelsea have made 85 changes so far this season, 16 more than Liverpool. Premier League leaders Arsenal have rotated the third-most players at 67. Some of those tweaks have been forced, be it through injury or suspension, but some are a selection decision.
Collectively, Chelsea's owners, board, sporting directors and coaching staff are in alignment that freshening up the starting XI is a necessity when combating the packed fixture schedule.
When the Blues return from the international break, they face a gruelling run of 11 matches in all competitions before the end of 2025 in the space of just four-and-a-half weeks.
Maresca, who won both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, is under no internal pressure and that is unlikely to change as the club have full faith that he will deliver more success in west London. The Blues currently sit seventh in the Premier League and are 12th in the Champions League.
Maresca said on his rotation decisions: "Yeah, I think I've tried to explain already many times. We have players, the intention tonight was to rest Enzo [Fernandez], to rest Moises [Caicedo], to rest Malo [Gusto], to rest more players, because they are not able to play every three days. They need recovery from last season, as you said, the Club World Cup affects a lot.
"We try to rotate when you win, no-one mentioned all that. I know that when we don't win, everyone is focused on that and now I think it's important to recover energy for Saturday and go again."
Chelsea play Wolves, who are without a win in the league, this Saturday before the international break kicks in. Once they return later in November the Blues will play three times in eight days before the month is up.
Maresca has said: "The intention is always, you know, when we make changes, is because the intention is always, because we think that the plan with the players that they start against is the correct one."
Jazbdklpyz
0
With such quality in its depth, we don't really need a dumbo to shuffle this team like a pack of cards like a magician ๐ Just look when Chelsea sacked another similar joker, AVB but still won the Champions League that year without an official coach! All we need is a sensible tactician to guide the team with our proven squad to herald Chelsea again.
Jazbdklpyz
1
Can you rotate your head and make your hair grow back again?
Veucdlmtuy
0
this maresca guy is just fucked up coach with a england championship mentality . how on each can he compare a UEFA champions league game to UEFA europer conference league games by trying to resting important prayers ?
Mitchello2
1
Exactly the problem with modern day football. No body gives you credit anymore. I have seen repeatedly people complains every time an xi is release negative statements here and there just waiting for him to lose the game so they can validate their small egos. ๐
Juhabsuy
0
you keep on talking about club world cup it's not chelsea alone play in it we need to win games expecially games like these so come on coach.
sheffayo
1
You played a weak team against the opponent in a UCL. You would have yourself to blame at the end of the match. Qarabaq isn't Derby County or Preston North End
sheffayo
1
some stupid fan dont know anything about football, yet they're opening their stupid mouth talking about the coach, I don't think if the coach is to be blamed, but the Chelsea hierarchy is to be blamed for providing the coach with inexperienced defenders,,rotation is for player own wellbeing,,,,plus we didn't get enough holiday due to club world cup,,,so player need to be rotated to avoid fatigue and injuries,,,,the reason Palmer is sideline is because he rarely rested in past 2 season,so I think Maresca is doing his best to rest player so he have a all his best players though out the season,,,,if you can't play rest Caicedo,Enzo,Neto,Chaloba,and Josh against Qarabag? would you be able to rest them again, Barcelona? or if the injured against the team you were supposed to play Qarabah, will you be able to use Tosin and Hato against Barcelona,Napoli, and Atalanta? if you don't understand football, please just shut your mouth instead of coming out shouting nonsense about the coach who is giving his all to turn things around, and in return, he's receiving insults from an idiot who dont know anything about football,,,
You sound stupid for calling people idiots who are vent and pour their frustration out because of inconsistency of the team performance. Champions League isn't conference league.. You must make sure you play a strong team in every match. In Champions League, the underdog team can upset the big team
vouabcknsz
1
The problem maresca is having is that he looks down on the opponent terms a lot, he should be playing every game as if they are final matches.
ruscepsty
1
Rotation wouldn't have any problem but how and when do you rotate? I don't think that if Chelsea was going to play Bayern instead of Qarabag he wouldn't have started with Chalobah and Fofana. It is far much better to start a match with a strong lineup than ending with it. This is what Arteta and Guardiola do. Weak line ups cost us points Vs Brentford, Brighton and Qarabag
Attehgodwin
0
Italian coaches are not the right people for this if u want to work with young players. They use base on the oldest have more experience the donโt give academy players any chance but because the wanted to work with young players that is why even tarique and josh are with the senior squad.It pain anytime I see estevao on the bench
Attehgodwin
0
If u donโt know u donโt know,this man doesnโt know anything because tarique played 9 and scored an equalizer against Fulham last season he keep using him us number 9
mimbeikpz
2
some stupid fan dont know anything about football, yet they're opening their stupid mouth talking about the coach, I don't think if the coach is to be blamed, but the Chelsea hierarchy is to be blamed for providing the coach with inexperienced defenders,,rotation is for player own wellbeing,,,,plus we didn't get enough holiday due to club world cup,,,so player need to be rotated to avoid fatigue and injuries,,,,the reason Palmer is sideline is because he rarely rested in past 2 season,so I think Maresca is doing his best to rest player so he have a all his best players though out the season,,,,if you can't play rest Caicedo,Enzo,Neto,Chaloba,and Josh against Qarabag? would you be able to rest them again, Barcelona? or if the injured against the team you were supposed to play Qarabah, will you be able to use Tosin and Hato against Barcelona,Napoli, and Atalanta? if you don't understand football, please just shut your mouth instead of coming out shouting nonsense about the coach who is giving his all to turn things around, and in return, he's receiving insults from an idiot who dont know anything about football,,,
Ronimoprsz
0
mad coach, that doesn't have first 11,every time you changing players from one position to another,change players as if you playing friendly match
Nudbdeimo
0
Because they're gamblers like me. They want goal goal and draw and they get it.. That's there plans
bibdekmnt
1
Stupid coach Rotating Players In Champions league wow Are You Okay at all.
Jaaadlmorz
3
I support one colleague,rotation is not the heart of the issue,but using players at the wrong position is the beginning of losing confidence and panicking of the players before kicking the ball. e.g james,gusto,goerge,hato, except the goalkeeper and himself. they have been playing in the wrong position.
Pehcdlmnrt
1
so all this useless changes was bc of wolves
Hikcdeiot
1
How comes you use Tosin and Hato in Center back fake defenders and George number 9 and you bench Guiu ๐๐๐๐๐
Hikcdeiot
0
wolves 3 Maresca 1
Hikcdeiot
0
Maresca fake coach
Honadeort
0
This coach isn't good at all, he's been trying trying & gumble
Honadeort
2
Maresca has the habit of underrating small teams datx y we end up losing or draw
Sazabilt
0
I am pretty sure chelsea will lose to wolves
and stupid owners will be very happy with it
Hikckmsuyz
6
I am pretty sure chelsea will lose to wolves
Yopbiktu
2
I think the boys did well on the match away and Qarabag wingers were something special all round it was a competitive match and ended on equal footing respect to both team.
hueeorsuyz
2
no body is against it but know when to rotate not in champions league games every clubs use their first X1 Coach can rotate in other matches but not that much as we know the team you are playing with . you make use of first xi play win the game early then make changes. that Qarabag yesterday hurt me die a club that never scored Chelsea before not to talk of getting from Chelsea before is the club we struggledto get draw is a shameful the coach leave that excuse with club world cup matches . he cause it because he underrated the team that is the truth.
Pekbeouyz
1
i think Chelsea s a very good team by the managements. the problem s simply , when you missed both difference midfield centre back s being hardly to make it.caicedo an the canter back very important
vuobdln
1
No one is against rotation of players. Maresca needs to it better. For instance, putting Tosin and Hato in heart of defense was a mistake and cost the team. At least put Chalobah or Achempong next to Hato. George has no relevance for our team. He is not a striker and our wings have better players than him.
repdemnprt
1
sure bro
KG_Baby
3
like I said before, the issue is not in the rotation of team, the issue is you fielding the right players when rotating the team ๐ฌ, which has been a major issue each time you rotate the team...
wenbimnpt
4
I also support the rotation..it keeps everyone fresh and hopeful..and there is not much difference in quality between all the players so it keeps everyone competitive and happy that they have a chance to play..the benefit of this approach would be seen during the end of the season when other teams would begin to struggle..this is what made Chelsea fresh during the CWC and we lifted the trophy cos most of the other teams were tired..
Akindele_dejavu
4
FIRST OF AL MARESCA SHOULD IDENTIFY HIS FIRST TEAM PLAYERโ๏ธ THIS BALD MAN ROTATES PLAYERS TOO MUCH ๐ โโ๏ธ๐ โโ๏ธ THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR A TEAM LIKE CHELSEA ๐ฅ