LONDON, Nov 7 (AFP): Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his policy of making regular wholesale changes to his Chelsea team after criticism from Wayne Rooney that his approach is disruptive.
The Blues made seven changes for Wednesday's disappointing 2-2 draw against Qarabag in Baku in the Champions League -- the fifth game in a row in which the Italian had made at least that number of changes.
In all this season, Chelsea have made 85 alterations to their starting line-ups in all competitions, far more than any other Premier League side. The next closest are Liverpool, with 69.
Rooney used his BBC Sport show on Thursday to question whether players can build relationships when they rarely know who they will line up alongside.
But Maresca stood by his decisions ahead of Chelsea's meeting with managerless Wolves on Saturday, pointing out that football has changed from the days when the former England and Manchester United forward played.
"We are in an era where anyone can say what they want," he said on Friday, referring to Rooney's remarks.
Maresca defends Chelsea rotation policy after Rooney criticism
FE Team | Published: November 07, 2025 23:05:38
Maresca defends Chelsea rotation policy after Rooney criticism
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