Enzo Maresca’s rotation policy this season has been a huge success so far.
Having a separate A team and B team has kept the league side fresh, allowed players in the second string to build chemistry with each other, and has kept fringe players happy with a steady stream of minutes.
There is one issue with it however – when the B team players are facing Barrow or Noah, no matter how well they do it’s hard to put forward their claim for a first team place based just on their showing against opposition that is so clearly beneath them.
\[moretories\]
You can score a screamer like Mykhailo Mudryk did last week, and still not see the starting lineup in the games that follow (he didn’t start on Sunday, nor does he tonight).
Filip Jorgensen lying on the turf in the Conference League.
### Midweek Premier League creates an interesting test
That’s why today’s game creates an interesting version of the normal setup. It’s a midweek game, against relatively weak opposition – but it’s in the Premier League, not the Carabao Cup or the Conference League.
So the players brought into the side tonight have a unique chance to play a really meaningful game, knowing they’re contributing to the overall success of the season and knowing they have a much better chance of an impressive performance meaning something to their big picture prospects.
Filip Jorgensen and Christopher Nkunku in particular are Blues who have done really well in the cups but haven’t seen that success translate to league starts. But a good performance tonight does a huge amount for their case.
It’s hard to see them breaking into the team for Sunday’s game against Tottenham – but this hectic festive period is going to see more and more chances like this for them to take advantage of.