After Chelsea made the most changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season, Jamie Carragher has looked at Enzo Maresca’s rotation policy. The Italian has changed the lineup 85 times, including seven times for the 2-2 draw at Qarabag and at least seven times in five straight matches.
Chelsea’s results have been mixed, with a draw in Europe and a 3-0 win over Wolves on the weekend that eased some of the pressure. The club’s higher-ups support the plan, saying the rotation is just a way to manage workloads rather than a sign of panic.
Carragher said on The Overlap podcast:
“I think the problem with Chelsea is they obviously buy a lot of players, but a lot of the players are the same, do you understand what I mean? It feels like every winger is the same.”
He continued:
“It feels like every player is the same when they swap them. So I think when you’re a manager, you’ve got the options, it’s not like one’s like a superstar and the other one’s just okay, so you’re always gonna pick the main one.”
Carragher further added:
“I feel like with a lot of their players, there’s not much difference. The front 3, you could completely change the front three and it wouldn’t really change the level of the team.”
Wayne Rooney notably spoke about Chelsea’s rotation. The Manchester United legend didn’t like the “chopping and changing” and told older players to question the method. Maresca disagreed, saying that rotation is necessary and strategic in all competitions, and pointing to player load and development.
Chelsea’s tough run of games coming up after international break
Chelsea’s next game is at Burnley on Saturday, November 22, after the international break. The Blues will then play Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, November 25, in the UEFA Champions League.
On Sunday, November 30, they end the month by hosting league leaders Arsenal at the Bridge. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, December 16, Chelsea will play Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Arsenal are in great shape in the league and are currently at the top of the Premier League table after the first few games of the season. Chelsea want to finish in the top four during this stretch and are dealing with both European and domestic cup games. The club’s league schedule for December starts with Leeds on December 3 and Bournemouth on December 6.