Despite Chelsea’s draw against Qarabag with a heavily rotated squad, head coach Enzo Maresca has received full backing from the club’s hierarchy for his rotation policy, crucial for navigating a demanding fixture schedule.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s relentless squad rotation is being actively encouraged by the club’s hierarchy, despite recent scrutiny following a 2-2 Champions League draw against Qarabag on Wednesday night, according to the Mirror.
Maresca, who made seven or more changes to his starting eleven in the last five consecutive matches, is supported by the ownership, board, and sporting directors, who collectively view squad rotation as a necessity to manage the packed fixture list.
This policy has resulted in Chelsea making 85 changes so far this season, 16 more than second-placed Liverpool and significantly more than Arsenal’s 67.
The Champions League draw, where Chelsea initially took the lead only to fall behind before Alejandro Garnacho equalised, saw Maresca rotate heavily, resting key players like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
Maresca, who guided Chelsea to the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his debut season, faces no internal pressure regarding his methods. He defended the rotation strategy, stating that the focus on changes only occurs when results are poor.
“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,” Maresca explained.
He added that players required recovery time from the cumulative effect of a busy schedule: “They need recovery from last season, as you said, the Club World Cup affects a lot.”
Maresca affirmed his selection rationale, insisting: “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.”
Chelsea is preparing for a gruelling stretch of 11 matches across all competitions before the end of 2025.