By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER
Published: 07:42 EST, 7 November 2025 | Updated: 07:57 EST, 7 November 2025
Enzo Maresca defiantly defended Chelsea’s rotation policy after a dig from Wayne Rooney, saying such criticism of his changes only emerges when his side do not win.
No Premier League manager rotates as much as Maresca, though he does so with the blessing of the Blues’ hierarchy, who believe it will benefit their squad come the end of this long campaign.
They will face managerless Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night in another outing in which Chelsea, who average six changes per game, are likely to rotate their team.
Rooney suggested via his BBC podcast that Reece James and Co should be privately questioning Maresca on the policy, however, to which Chelsea’s head coach responded: ‘We are in a moment, in an era, where anyone can say what they want, it's correct, I completely respect that.
‘But since I joined the club, it's my view to rotate players, and no one complained when you win a game. When the rotation is Andrey Santos – Brazil international player – Jorrel Hato – Netherlands international player – Estevao Willian – Brazil international player – it’s not about rotation.
‘They are good, they are talented, they are young, and for sure when they are young, you have to give them the chance to make some mistakes, to be better. The same thing happened in the past with Josh Acheampong. I understand that when you don't win a game, the problem is the rotation or defending.’
Enzo Maresca has defended his rotation policy and insists it will benefit his team long-term
It followed Wayne Rooney claiming Chelsea stars should privately question him on the policy
Jorrel Hato came into the side against Qarabag in midweek - with the Blues averaging six changes per match
Rooney had said: ‘The players want to play, they want to build relationships. 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. Most clubs now have a leadership group and as a group you have to go and question the manager. 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”.’
There was a slightly tense to-and-fro between Maresca and the broadcast reporter quizzing him on rotation at his pre-Wolves press conference, as the Blues boss insisted: ‘I loved rotation as a player.’
When the broadcaster told Maresca that she did not believe him, he continued: ‘For me, personally, it's impossible to play with the same players, 65 games in one season, Champions League, Premier League. You cannot say, “But why years ago it was possible?” Because it was different. It was not so physical. I played for 20 years. It was not so physical. Now it's changed.
‘You need to rotate. This is my personal view. You need to do that. If you want to see a season like a marathon, then when you are in February, when you are in March, that is the last spring, probably you have to think in a different way. But at the moment, I think you have to think like a long race.’
Chelsea have made 85 changes to their line-ups in all competitions this season – by far the most of any club in the Premier League.