Chelsea’s hierarchy remain fully behind Enzo Maresca’s rotation approach despite the 2–2 draw against Qarabag in the Champions League.
The Italian made seven changes to his lineup in Baku, a decision that drew scrutiny after the result. However, club officials view Maresca’s squad management as part of a long-term plan to sustain performance levels across four competitions. Sources close to the club say there is no sense Maresca “gambled” with his selection — rather, he followed a carefully planned rotation strategy aimed at keeping players fit through a congested campaign.
Chelsea’s squad depth has been stretched by injuries to Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile, while Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and João Pedro are carrying minor knocks. Maresca’s decision to rest Caicedo and Fernández backfired when Roméo Lavia limped off after eight minutes, forcing Caicedo into early action.
The 5,000-mile trip to Azerbaijan complicated preparations, but club leaders were satisfied with Maresca’s planning and insist the rotation policy will not change. “His job is to balance freshness and development,” said a senior figure. “Short-term results won’t dictate long-term thinking.”
Maresca’s approach has already benefited players such as Reece James, who has stayed injury-free under managed workloads. The same cautious plan is being applied to Wesley Fofana and Lavia.
While results have varied when Maresca rotates — Chelsea have beaten Ajax, Lincoln, and Wolves but drawn with Brentford and Qarabag — the club remains committed to patience and sustainability over quick fixes.
