Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his decision to constantly rotate his squad after former England captain Wayne Rooney criticised the approach.
Rooney questioned Maresca’s frequent lineup changes following Chelsea’s 2–2 draw with Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday. The game marked the fifth straight match in which Maresca made at least seven changes to his starting XI, prompting Rooney to say senior players should “question” the selections.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Friday, Maresca insisted that rotation is necessary and made possible by the depth of his squad. He described the season as a “marathon,” one that started as far back as the Club World Cup in the summer.
“We’re in an era where anyone can say what they want,” he said, reacting to Rooney’s comments.
“Since I arrived, rotation has been part of my philosophy. Nobody complains when you win. When you don’t, I understand why people question it. I loved rotation as a player. Football today is different—there’s more intensity and physical demand. You can’t expect the same players to feature in 65 matches.”
He added that keeping players fresh for the decisive months of the season is crucial. “If you look at the season like a marathon, by February and March you need energy for the final sprint.”
Maresca also defended his choice to start teenage defender Jorrel Hato in Baku, despite the youngster being at fault for both Qarabag goals.
Read Also;
UCL Matchday 4: Liverpool host Real Madrid, Bayern face PSG, other fixtures
“When the players coming in are Andrey Santos, a Brazilian international, Jorrel Hato, a Netherlands international, and Estevao, another Brazilian international, it’s not really about rotation,” he said. “They’re talented but young. And young players need chances to make mistakes. But when results don’t go your way, rotation becomes the easy target.”
Earlier, Rooney had urged Chelsea’s senior players to challenge Maresca over his constant changes to the starting lineup.
