Chelsea’s hierarchy remain fully behind Enzo Maresca’s squad rotation strategy, despite the Italian facing scrutiny after Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag.
Maresca made seven changes to his starting XI in Baku, prompting questions about his team selection. However, club executives view his approach as a long-term plan to manage player fitness across four competitions rather than a gamble.
The club believes that rotating heavily — Chelsea have used more starting XIs than any other Premier League team this season — will keep players fresh amid a congested schedule and ongoing injury issues. Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, and Benoît Badiashile were unavailable midweek, while Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and João Pedro are carrying minor knocks.
Maresca’s attempt to rest key midfielders was disrupted when Roméo Lavia suffered a thigh injury early in the game, forcing Caicedo into action. The squad’s exhausting 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan added to the challenge, though Chelsea were still determined to field a competitive side, with Reece James, Marc Cucurella, João Pedro, and Robert Sánchez starting.
While some younger players struggled — notably Jorrel Hato and Andrey Santos — Chelsea accept that such experiences are vital for their development. Maresca’s close collaboration with the club’s sporting directors ensures alignment on the rotation strategy, with both sides prioritizing squad health over short-term results.
The approach has shown mixed results — draws with Brentford and Qarabag but wins over Ajax, Lincoln, and Wolves — yet Maresca retains firm backing. Club leaders believe his system will pay off later in the season, especially with players like Reece James staying injury-free under careful management.
