Enzo Maresca will certainly be taking his share of the blame for the inconsistent form Chelsea find themselves in as we enter November.
The boss has frequently been let down by poor displays, and notably players getting sent off in key moments of games that have swung the momentum.
Jorrel Hato recently let Maresca down with his performance in the Champions League group stage against Qarabag.
The Dutchman made an error leading to a goal, as well as gave away a penalty as the heavily-rotated Chelsea side drew 2-2 in Azerbaijan.
Enzo Maresca giving instructions to Moises Caicedo during Chelsea training session
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Seven changes were made to the starting side for the European game, and this is a total which Wayne Rooney believes is not sustainable for a side with Chelsea’s ambitions.
He said: “That’s part of the problem with signing so many players. They’ve got so many good players. You’re trying to get them game time.
“And I’m sure, you know, he will have went into that game thinking the changes he’s made, Chelsea still should win the game. But when I spoke about City having momentum, you can’t get momentum with that like that.
Liverpool FC v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4
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“As players, you want to play, you want to play games and you want to build relationships and as a centre-back pair and as forwards, as midfielders, you build that relationship and when you keep chopping and changing, the players won’t be happy 100%.
“Players who were getting bits of game time and maybe might expect it will be happy, but you want to play, you want to, you know, get on a running of winning games and playing consistently.”
Chelsea chiefs disagree with Wayne Rooney
Despite a number of Chelsea fans now taking the side of Rooney in this debate, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali would disagree with what the legendary Manchester United striker has to say.
Chelsea chiefs are happy with Maresca’s rotation, and are likely aware of the tough situation he finds himself in right now.
The Blues hardly had a summer break due to their participation in the Club World Cup, and have already seen key players Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap suffer significant injuries.
Chelsea simply cannot afford for the same thing to happen to someone like Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez, and the boss is going to have to continue to navigate rotation where he can in the early months of the season.