Premier League legend Wayne Rooney believes senior players at Chelsea should question Enzo Maresca’s rotation policy.
Chelsea have made 85 changes to their starting line-up this season, more than any other club in the Premier League.
Maresca is trying to manage the squad and mitigate any effect of the Club World Cup, with the Blues potentially facing a 65 game campaign.
Wayne Rooney thinks senior Chelsea players should question Maresca
Maresca has made at least seven changes in each of the last five games across all competitions, with the 2-2 draw against Qarabag on Wednesday night the most recent of those.
It’s believed Maresca is being encouraged to rotate as part of a season long strategy, but Rooney believes the constant chopping and changing is making the players unhappy.
Enzo Maresca gesticulates on the touchline.
Maresca has made most the most changes in the Premier League this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“The players want to play, they want to build relationships,” he told the Wayne Rooney Show.
“When you keep chopping and changing then the players won’t be happy. I think that will come back to bite them.
“If they are getting results all the time then you can’t question it but if they’re not, there has to be questions asked.”
Chelsea players should question selection policy
Rooney also added he felt senior players like captain Reece James should question Maresca over the issue.
“I think most clubs now have a leadership group and as a group you have to go and question the manager,” he added.
More Stories / Latest News
Enzo Maresca in a Champions League press conference.
Rodrygo Goes with a Chelsea logo. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino looks on from the touchline.
“You hear people talk about ‘player power’ but this isn’t player power.
“I’d be concerned if the team kept changing. If I was in that [leadership] group I’d be speaking to my team-mates saying ‘Look, i’m not happy with this’.”
Chelsea host Wolves on Saturday in the final game before the November international break, and once again Maresca will likely make a whole host of changes to the starting line-up.