Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hit back at Wayne Rooney’s questioning of his team selection strategy, insisting his rotation policy is essential for navigating the demands of modern football.
The Italian tactician came under scrutiny following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, a result that prompted former England captain Rooney to suggest senior players should challenge the constant changes to the starting line-up.
Maresca, who has made at least seven alterations to his XI in five consecutive matches, remained defiant when addressing the criticism during his Friday press conference.
“We are in an era where anyone can say what they want,” he said, responding 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 why no one agrees.”
The Chelsea boss, who led his side to Club World Cup glory in the summer, argued that the physical demands of contemporary football make rotation inevitable rather than optional.
“I loved rotation as a player,” Maresca explained. “Football is a bit different compared to years ago in terms of physicality and intensity. It’s impossible to play with the same players in 65 games in one season.”
Drawing a marathon analogy, he added: “If you want to see the season like a marathon, when you are in February and March—the last sprint—you have to think differently. But it’s a long race.”
The manager also defended his decision to field teenage Dutch defender Jorrel Hato in Baku, despite the youngster being culpable for both Qarabag goals in the disappointing draw.
“When the rotation is Andrey Santos, a Brazilian international, Jorrel Hato, a Netherlands international, and Estevao, a Brazilian international, then it’s not about rotation,” Maresca stated emphatically.
“They are talented; they are young. When they are young, you have to give them a chance to make mistakes. But when you don’t win games, the problem is rotation,” he said.
Rooney, now managing in the Championship, had questioned whether Chelsea’s experienced players were content with being regularly rested, suggesting the frequent changes could disrupt team cohesion and momentum.
However, Maresca appears unmoved by the criticism, confident that his squad’s depth—strengthened by significant investment in recent transfer windows—allows him the luxury of managing player workloads throughout what promises to be a gruelling campaign.
