Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca backed by club despite draw in UCL

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is definitely unfazed by the disappointing result, as he has received strong backing from the club despite only securing a 2-2 draw in the Champions League against Qarabag on Wednesday night.

The Italian manager who made more than seven changes to the starting eleven that beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 away, in the London derby.

The 45-year-old, however, is being backed by the club chiefs to rotate the squad to meet the busy schedules in the season, packed with loads of games.

Maresca’s side scored early in the first half through Wonderkid Estevao, but then found themselves pinned back to the side from Qarabag before Alejandro Garnacho equalised early in the second half.

Maresca has made seven or more changes to his line-up in five successive games, including in Chelsea’s stalemate 2,726 miles away from West London.

The Blues are recorded to have made 85 changes so far this season, 16 more than Liverpool, with Premier League leaders Arsenal having rotated the third-most players at 67.

Enzo Maresca backed by club after Qarabag draw

Unfortunately, the manager’s hand has been forced due to injury or suspension, but some are a selection decision.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s owners, board, sporting directors, and coaching staff agree that rotating the starting XI is essential to navigate through the congested fixture schedule.

Maresca said on his rotation decisions: “Yeah, I think I’ve tried to explain already many times. We have players, the intention tonight was to rest Enzo [Fernandez], to rest Moises [Caicedo], to rest Malo [Gusto], to rest more players, because they are not able to play every three days.

“They need recovery from last season, as you said, the Club World Cup affects a lot.

“We try to rotate when you win, no one mentioned all that. I know that when we don’t win, everyone is focused on that, and now I think it’s important to recover energy for Saturday and go again.”

Chelsea are expected to return from the international break, after which they face a gruelling run of 11 matches in all competitions throughout Christmas Eve in the space of just four-and-a-half weeks.

Maresca won both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, and is under no internal pressure to deliver beyond their expectation.

Reports suggest the new owners and sporting directors are pleased with his progress and unlikely to make changes, with the club fully confident he will bring further success to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues currently sit seventh in the Premier League and are 12th in the Champions League. They will face the struggling side, Wolves, who are still in search of their first win of the season, this Saturday, before the international break.