Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his frequent squad rotations following criticism from former England captain Wayne Rooney.
Rooney had questioned Maresca’s constant changes to the starting lineup after Chelsea’s 2–2 draw against Qarabag in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The match marked the fifth consecutive game in which Maresca made at least seven changes to his starting XI, prompting Rooney to suggest that senior players should “question” the manager’s selections.
Responding to the comments on Friday, Maresca said his decision to rotate players was a deliberate strategy to maintain fitness and competitiveness across a long, demanding season.
“We are in an era where anyone can say what they want,” Maresca told reporters. “Since I joined the club, it has been my philosophy to rotate players. Nobody complains when you win, but when results don’t go your way, people always find something to question.”
The Italian coach noted that modern football’s physical demands make it impossible to rely on the same lineup throughout the season.
“Football today is more intense than it was years ago. You can’t expect players to feature in 65 matches a season without rest,” he said. “I see the campaign as a marathon, by February and March, when the final sprint begins, you need fresh legs.”
Maresca also stood by his decision to start 18-year-old defender Jorrel Hato in Baku, despite the youngster being at fault for both of Qarabag’s goals.
“When your rotation options include players like Andrey Santos, Jorrel Hato, and Estevão, all internationals, then it’s not about rotation for the sake of it,” he explained. “They are talented and young. You have to give them space to make mistakes and grow. But when results don’t go your way, people blame rotation.”
Earlier this week, PUNCH Online reported that Rooney had urged Chelsea’s senior players to challenge Maresca over what he called “excessive tinkering” with the team’s structure.
Despite the criticism, Maresca insisted he remains confident in his approach, emphasizing that player management and squad depth will be key to Chelsea’s long-term success this season.
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