Chelsea have thrown their full support behind Enzo Maresca’s squad rotation strategy, despite questions over his selection in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag.
The Italian made seven changes for the trip to Azerbaijan, but the club hierarchy view his approach as essential to maintaining player fitness across a demanding season. Chelsea believe their deep squad must be used regularly to avoid burnout, particularly with injuries mounting and the team competing on multiple fronts.
Sources at the club insist there is no concern that Maresca “gambled” with his lineup, and that his long-term management of workloads has helped keep players such as Reece James fit.
The 5,000-mile round trip, coupled with absences for Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, and Benoît Badiashile, complicated preparation. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández started on the bench due to minor knocks but were forced into action early after Roméo Lavia suffered a thigh injury.
Chelsea acknowledge that young players like Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos, and Jamie Gittens need time to adapt to Maresca’s system, even if results fluctuate. The club’s leadership remain patient, stressing that the priority is player development and long-term success over short-term wins.
Maresca’s rotation has produced mixed outcomes — draws with Brentford and Qarabag balanced by wins over Ajax, Lincoln, and Wolves — but Chelsea’s faith in his plan remains unwavering.
