Maresca Reflects on Draw with Qarabag
November 7, 2025 – Enzo Maresca expressed disappointment over conceding easy goals during Chelsea’s 2-2 tie with Qarabag in the Champions League. The match saw the Chelsea manager implement seven changes to his lineup, a trend that has continued for the fifth consecutive match.
Wayne Rooney voiced concerns over Maresca’s rotating strategy, suggesting that Chelsea players should be questioning the manager’s decisions. “The players crave the chance to build chemistry on the pitch,” said Rooney on his show. “Constant changes disrupt that, and I worry it could have repercussions.”
Despite Chelsea’s mixed results, which include three wins, a draw, and a loss to newly-promoted Sunderland, Rooney noted that leadership within the squad should press Maresca for clarification on his selection approach.
“Many teams today have a leadership group, and it’s important for them to engage the manager,” Rooney remarked. “This isn’t necessarily about ‘player power,’ but if I were part of the leadership group, I would voice my concerns.”
After the game against Qarabag, Maresca defended his lineup choices, stating, “Our selections are based on what we believe is best for the team. We initially started well, scoring first, but we allowed two goals soon after. We need to improve our finishing in critical moments.”
The Chelsea boss also highlighted the challenges posed by their recent participation in the Club World Cup, indicating the necessity of resting players like Moises and Enzo. He added, “When we achieve results, the rotation isn’t questioned, but when we stumble, the focus shifts toward that.”
Maresca’s comments come as Chelsea navigates an uneven phase in their season, underscoring the importance of cohesive team dynamics in achieving consistent performance.
In related news, Rooney later acknowledged that his remarks about Virgil van Dijk were perhaps too harsh. Van Dijk had faced criticism for his recent performances following his contract extension with Liverpool. Addressing this, Van Dijk stated, “I believe the remarks were a bit unfair, but that’s subjective. I evaluate my performances according to my own standards.” Rooney admitted to possibly being overly critical but stood by his observations regarding Van Dijk’s performance levels.
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