Wayne Rooney has urged Chelsea’s senior players to confront manager Enzo Maresca over his constant squad changes, saying the frequent rotation could hurt team chemistry.
Too many changes, says Rooney
Maresca made seven alterations to his starting XI in the 2-2 Champions League draw against Qarabag — the fifth straight match in which he changed at least seven players.
“The players want to play, they want to build relationships,” Rooney said on his podcast. “When you keep chopping and changing, players won’t be happy. That can come back to bite them.”
Leadership group must act
The former England captain believes it’s up to captain Reece James and other senior figures to speak up. “Most clubs now have a leadership group,” Rooney said. “As a group, you have to go and question the manager. That’s not player power — it’s leadership.”
Maresca defends rotation
Chelsea have made 85 changes in 16 matches this season — by far the most in the Premier League.
Maresca defended his approach, saying rotation is necessary due to a packed schedule. “The selection is always because we think the plan with the players is the correct one,” he explained. “They are not able to play every three days. When we win, nobody mentions that, but when we don’t, everyone focuses on it.”
Rooney softens Van Dijk criticism
Rooney also reflected on his previous comments about Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. He admitted he “might have been a bit harsh” when suggesting the Dutchman had eased off after signing a new contract.
However, Rooney maintained that Van Dijk’s performances this season have not reached his usual high standards. “From a performance point of view, I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing,” he said. “Van Dijk will judge himself by those standards.”
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