Wayne Rooney has spoken out against Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca’s policy of rotating players. He told the older players to question the approach if the results get worse. Maresca has changed the starting XI 85 times this season, which is the most in the Premier League. In each of Chelsea’s last five games, including a 2-2 draw with Qarabag, he has made at least seven changes.
The people in charge at Chelsea publicly support the plan, and Maresca defended it before the Wolves game. Rooney 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”.
Maresca said that rotation works with his long-term plan and the way the club works. He talked about managing workloads and giving young players chances. He said that the results would prove the policy right.
Enzo Maresca’s Recent Rotations This Season
Maresca’s recent changes in Chelsea’s games have been the main topic of discussion. The head coach has made big changes in both the league and Europe in each game.
Chelsea made at least seven changes to their starting XI in five games in a row, including the 2-2 draw at Qarabag. The total number of changes across all competitions was 85, which is the most in the Premier League this season. Speaking ahead of the Wolves game, Maresca said:
“For me personally, it’s impossible to play with the same players for 65 games a season – Champions League, Premier League.”
He also said that the physical demands of modern football call for rotation. Wayne Rooney told Chelsea’s leadership group to question the policy if results stop coming in, saying that relationships on the field are suffering. Maresca said that rotation fits with managing workloads and the club’s long-term plan.