Maresca Defends Rotation as Chelsea Brace for Wolves Amid Injury Woes

Chelsea's Italian coach Enzo Maresca held a comprehensive press conference ahead of the Wolverhampton fixture, the 11th round of the Premier League, outlining the squad's current state and strategic outlook.

The briefing covered injuries, rotation policy, and the club's ambitions for the season.

The session opened with concern over Roméo Lavia's latest setback, with no precise update yet. He will undergo medical tests in the coming hours, and the injury is painful for the team.

Regarding Pedro Neto, Maresca said the forward trained with the physio on the pitch yesterday and will try to train with the squad today; a final decision on his involvement will follow.

Defending the rotation policy

Asked about Wayne Rooney's criticism of Chelsea's rotation, Maresca stressed that he respects everyone's viewpoint. He said: "We are in an era where anyone can express an opinion, and I respect that completely."

He added: "Since day one in the club, rotation has been my stance: rotating players. In the past no one complained, but when you don't win, people may disagree with this policy."

He explained his philosophy: rotating players like André Santos—a Brazil international—and Estevão—a Brazil international—are not random choices; they are talented, young players given chances to learn from mistakes and grow. He stressed that these opportunities help the squad adapt to English football.

"These players are talented and young, and it's natural to give them the chance to make some errors in pursuit of improvement," Maresca said. He also noted that football today demands greater physical power and speed, making it impossible to play the same lineup for all 65 matches of a season.

The Chelsea boss likened the season to a long marathon, saying, "If you view the season as a long race, you must manage the squad carefully. By February or March we may reassess, but for now the plan is to prepare for a lengthy campaign."

Regarding Chelsea's title ambitions, he emphasized focusing on each match individually: "I've said many times, I don't like thinking about April or May. My goal now is to win the next game. If you want to compete for the title, you have to think about every game in isolation."

On Lavia's injuries, Maresca expressed frustration at recurrent setbacks: "It's unfortunate for the player to suffer repeated injuries despite reduced minutes. We must keep seeking another solution to help him adapt to the team’s demands."

Chelsea vs Wolves: a tough test

On facing a Wolves side with no permanent coach, Maresca admitted the challenge is real, especially after playing on Wednesday and giving players a day off. Training will be brief, with the game looming, so the plan may differ slightly, but the team must adapt to the circumstances.

The manager indicated Brazilian Estevão is ready to start, but balancing the lineup remains key: if Estevão begins, another player sits, and that player also wants game time. He stressed the importance of managing minutes to help players adapt to English football.

Another point of note was Estevão's readiness to start, with Maresca noting: "He is ready, but when Estevão starts, another player sits on the bench, and that player also wants to contribute. We’re trying to manage things well to help him settle into English football."

He also smiled about the weather: "Last week someone was sick with the cold, now October is over, what about December and January? Still, he’s doing a great job and is undoubtedly a gifted player for this club."

Turning to his World Coach of the Year nomination, Maresca said: "I’m very happy with the nomination; it’s a beautiful moment because it comes from the players who actually play the matches. The nomination is nice, but the essence always lies with the players."

Flexibility, tactics, and future prospects

On the tactical side, Maresca explained the club’s continual search for solutions. After conceding from long balls against Tottenham, he noted their plan had worked and could do so again tomorrow.

He added: "When you take a tactical step, the opponent may respond differently. It’s like a chess game; we always try to be prepared for various scenarios."

Closing the conference, Maresca discussed the value of evolving his approach and remaining open to long-ball strategies if they prove advantageous. He emphasized that the team must stay flexible and ready for many possibilities as the season unfolds.

Punchline 1: Rotation is Chelsea's version of a relay race — someone else always gets the baton, and somehow they still expect to win the sprint.

Punchline 2: Maresca calls the season a marathon; good news is my coffee is faster than some lineups—at least the espresso never edits the starting XI.