Maresca defends Chelsea rotation policy after Rooney criticism

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his policy of making regular wholesale changes to his Chelsea team after criticism from Wayne Rooney that his approach is disruptive.

The Blues made seven changes for Wednesday’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Qarabag in Baku in the Champions League — the fifth game in a row in which the Italian had made at least that number of changes.

In all this season, Chelsea have made 85 alterations to their starting line-ups in all competitions, far more than any other Premier League side. The next closest are Liverpool, with 69.

Rooney used his BBC Sport show on Thursday to question whether players can build relationships when they rarely know who they will line up alongside.

But Maresca stood by his decisions ahead of Chelsea’s meeting with managerless Wolves on Saturday, pointing out that football has changed from the days when the former England and Manchester United forward played.

“We are in an era where anyone can say what they want,” he said on Friday, referring to Rooney’s remarks. “Since I joined the club, it’s my view to rotate players. No one complains when you win. When you don’t win I can understand no one is agreeing.

“I loved rotation as a player. Football is a bit different compared to years ago in terms of physicality and intensity. It’s impossible to play with the same players 65 games in one season.

“You cannot say: ‘Why, years ago, was it possible?’ Because it was different. It was not so physical. I played for 20 years. Now it’s changed. You need to rotate.

“If you want to see the season like a marathon — when you are in February and March, the last sprint, you have to think in a different way. But it’s a long race.”

There was particular criticism directed at Maresca in Baku over his decisions in defence, with 19-year-old Jorrel Hato at fault for both goals conceded.

“When the rotation is Andrey Santos, a Brazil international, and Jorrel Hato, Holland international, and Estevao, Brazil international, then it’s not about rotation,” he said. 

“They are talented, they are young. When they are young you have to give them chance to make mistakes. But when you don’t win games, the problem is rotation.”

Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to basement club Wolves.