Enzo Maresca is being not just backed but encouraged to rotate by Chelsea's hierarchy as part of a season-long strategy, talkSPORT understands.
The Chelsea boss has made 85 changes so far this season, 16 more than Liverpool. Premier League leaders Arsenal have rotated the third-most players at 67.
Chelsea players celebrate scoring against Qarabag
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Maresca made seven changes for the 2-2 draw at QarabagCredit: Getty
Maresca has made seven or more changes to his line up in five consecutive games, including in Chelsea's 2-2 Champions League draw at Qarabag on Wednesday.
Some of Maresca's changes have been enforced with Chelsea suffering five red cards since September, while injuries to Liam Delap (groin) and Cole Palmer (hamstring) have also led to rotation.
Winning the Club World Cup was undoubtedly positive in both football and financial terms, but it means Chelsea might play a 65+ game season and player welfare is also a factor at the forefront of Maresca's thinking.
Some comparisons have been made with former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who was known as the 'Tinkerman', but this is viewed as unfair by those familiar with Chelsea's strategy.
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Rotation at Chelsea is not seen as enforced, and is expected as part of the sporting model.
Chelsea's owners and sporting directors are aligned that it is a useful way of developing the squad and ensuring a deep pool of options for a long season ahead in which the Blues hope to challenge on all fronts.
Chelsea remain firmly behind Maresca and his selection choices and feel the consistency the Chelsea manager is seeking will come over time as different player combinations are tried and young players mature.
Maresca is backed to get rewards for his rotation come the business end of the season.
What has Maresca said
Maresca defended his team selection after that 2-2 draw with Qarabag, having made seven changes from the winning side who played at Tottenham.
"The [selection] is always because we think the plan with the players is the correct one," said Maresca.
Moises Caicedo playing against Qarabag
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Caicedo was on the bench from the start against QarabagCredit: Getty
"Today, we started the right way, scored the goal but then we conceded two, the first one when they had 10 players. We can avoid both goals. In their box, we need to be more clinical."
The Blues boss also pointed to the disruption caused by their participation, and victory, in the Club World Cup.
"The intention was to rest Moises, Enzo, Malo [Gusto] and more players," he said.
"They are not able to play every three days. The Club World Cup affected a lot.
"We tried to rotate. When we win, nobody mentions that but when we don't, everyone is focused on that."