By Martin Graham
Inconsistency linked to constant changesEurope exposes Chelsea’s fragility
Chelsea’s relentless squad changes are drawing scrutiny after their 2-2 draw away at Qarabag in the Champions League. Enzo Maresca has altered his line-up more than any other Premier League coach this season, recording 85 changes across 16 fixtures.
In Baku, the Blues required substitute Alejandro Garnacho to rescue a point early in the second half after a chaotic opening period. Estevao Willian’s early strike was cancelled out by goals from Leandro Andrade and Marko Jankovic, both capitalizing on errors by young defender Jorrel Hato. Qarabag, with a team valued at around £22m, exposed a Chelsea side worth more than forty times that amount.
Only four players from the weekend’s victory over Tottenham – Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Joao Pedro – kept their places. It was the fifth successive game in which Maresca made seven or more alterations, prompting comparisons to Claudio Ranieri’s old “tinkerman” tag at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca defended his methods, insisting his rotations follow a tactical plan. “We start with the idea that the line-up chosen is the right one,” he said. “We controlled much of the second half, but we should have been sharper inside their box. The players know every match is an opportunity to prove why they belong here.”
Inconsistency linked to constant changes
Chelsea’s erratic form has mirrored their ever-changing line-ups. Strong performances against leading sides have been offset by disappointing showings against smaller opponents. Maresca has been cautious with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Garnacho due to fitness management, while striker Liam Delap is also being eased back. Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill remain sidelined.
The Italian manager pointed to Chelsea’s extended previous campaign, which ran over 13 months due to their Club World Cup involvement, leaving little time for recovery. “We must rotate because some players cannot 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.”
Yet rival teams such as Arsenal and Tottenham have maintained steadier line-ups, aiming for continuity. Chelsea’s young replacements have struggled to step up: Hato endured a tough night, forwards Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George were quiet, and Andrey Santos found the tempo difficult to handle.
Romeo Lavia’s brief appearance 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 still has not completed a full 90 minutes for Chelsea.
Europe exposes Chelsea’s fragility
Analyst Julien Laurens believes Chelsea’s heavy squad rotation may be unsustainable in Europe. “Last season, their changes worked because they were in the Conference League,” he said on Champions League Match of the Day. “This is different – the Champions League demands consistency.”
Laurens noted that even elite managers like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta avoid excessive rotation despite deeper squads. “Chelsea’s inconsistency comes from too many changes,” he explained. “Maresca wants freshness, which makes sense after the Club World Cup, but it’s counterproductive at this level.”
He pointed out that Chelsea’s younger players, such as Hato and Gittens, are still adapting to the Champions League stage. “They will qualify, yes, but performances like this show the gap in experience. You can’t rely on constant rotation in Europe,” Laurens concluded.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
