Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has fiercely criticized Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca for his relentless rotation policy, urging senior players to confront him.
Maresca made seven changes for the recent 2-2 draw against Qarabag, marking the fifth consecutive match with major upheaval. Overall, Chelsea has made an unprecedented 85 changes in 16 matches this season.
Rooney warned that the constant “chopping and changing” will “come back to bite them” and stressed that players want to “build relationships.” He believes the club’s leadership group, including captain Reece James, must “question the manager” about the selections.
Maresca defended the changes, arguing they are necessary to rest key players like Caicedo and Fernandez following a demanding schedule, including the Club World Cup.
Separately, Rooney admitted he was “a bit unfair” in suggesting Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk had “downed tools” after signing a new contract.
However, he maintained he was right to question the level of the defender’s performances this season.
