Enzo Maresca, Chelsea manager, has fired back at Wayne Rooney after the former Manchester United forward criticized the coach’s rotational policy.
This is coming after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday.
It was the fifth consecutive match that Maresca had made at least seven changes to his starting 11. Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, the former Three Lions player said the rotation affects the team and urged the senior players to speak up. However, Maresca says talk is cheap.
“I said already many times, we are in a moment, in an era where anyone can say what they want,” Maresca responded.
“It’s correct, I completely respect, but I also said after the Qarabağ game that since I joined the club, it’s also my view to rotate players, and no-one complained in the moment that you don’t win a game. I can understand that no-one disagreed.
“I think that when the rotation is Andrey Santos, Brazil international player, Jorrel Hato, Holland international player, Estêvão Willian, Brazil international player, it’s not about rotation.
“They are good, they are talented, they are young, and for sure when they are young, you have to give them the chance to make some mistakes, to be better.
“The same thing I think happened in the past with Josh Acheampong,” he concluded.
Maresca said he has the luxury of players and will continue to make changes so as to keep the players from wearing out.
