By Martin Graham
Chelsea’s Incessant team changes come under scrutiny after the 2-2 draw at Qarabag in the Champions League. Enzo Maresca has changed his line-up more than any other manager in the Premier League this season, making 85 changes in 16 games.
In Baku, the Blues required a substitute Alejandro Garnacho to rescue a point early in the second half after a chaotic opening period. Estevao Willian’s The first goal was canceled out by goals from Leandro Andrade and Marko Jankovic, both capitalizing on mistakes by young defender Jorrel Hato. Qarabag, with a team valued at around £22 million, exposed a Chelsea team worth more than forty times that amount.
Only four players from the weekend win against Tottenham – Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro – kept their places. It was the fifth consecutive game in which Maresca made seven or more substitutions, prompting comparisons with Claudio Ranieri’s former ‘tinkerman’ tag at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca defended his methods, insisting that his rotations follow a tactical plan. “We start with the idea that the chosen training is the right one,” he said. “We controlled a lot of the second half, but we should have been more clear inside their box. The players know that every game is an opportunity to show why they belong here.”
Inconsistency linked to constant changes
Chelsea’s erratic form has reflected their ever-changing lineups. Good performances against the top teams have been offset by disappointing performances against lesser opponents. Maresca has been cautious Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandezand Garnacho due to fitness management, while striker Liam Delap is also favored. Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill remain on the sidelines.
The Italian coach pointed to Chelsea’s long previous campaign, which lasted more than 13 months due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, leaving little time for recovery. “We have to rotate because some players can’t play every three days,” he explained. “When we win, nobody talks about it. When we don’t, people say we rotate too much. It’s about balancing energy and performance.”
However, rival teams like arsenal i Tottenham they have maintained more stable alignments, with the aim of continuity. Chelsea’s young substitutes have struggled to step up – Hato endured a tough night, strikers Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George were quiet and Andrey Santos found the pace difficult to handle.
The brief appearance of Romeo Lavia deepened the club’s injury concerns. The midfielder limped off after four minutes, adding to his worrying record of ten injuries since joining from Southampton. According to Transfermarkt, he has missed 87 games and is yet to complete 90 minutes for Chelsea.
Europe exposes Chelsea’s fragility
Analyst Julien Laurens believes Chelsea’s heavy squad turnover may be unsustainable in Europe. “Last season, their changes worked because they were in the Conference League,” he said at the Champions Day game. “This is different: the Champions League demands consistency.”
Laurens pointed out that even elite managers such as Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta avoid excessive rotation despite the deepest squads. “Chelsea’s inconsistency comes from too many changes,” he explained. “Maresca wants freshness, which makes sense after the Club World Cup, but it is counterproductive at this level.”
He pointed out that Chelsea’s younger players, such as Hato and Gittens, are still adjusting to the Champions League stage. “They will qualify, yes, but performances like this show the experience gap. You can’t rely on constant rotation in Europe,” Laurens concluded.
