Chelsea hierarchy's stance on Enzo Maresca rotation policy after Qarabag draw

Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw in Azerbaijan on Wednesday in their fourth Champions League group phase match against Qarabag

Chelsea will continue to back Enzo Maresca's rotation policy despite Wednesday's shock 2-2 Champions League group phase draw against Qarabag.

The Italian made seven changes in Azerbaijan to the Blues side that won convincingly at Spurs on Saturday and later conceded that last summer's Club World Cup triumph was now beginning to take its toll upon his star-studded squad.

Romeo Lavia was forced off after just eight minutes at the Azersun Arena due to a muscle injury meaning midfielder Moises Caicedo, who has enjoyed little rest this season, had to enter the fray on a night where he was supposed to saving his legs.

Maresca has also fielded a different centre-back partnership in each of Chelsea's past 10 matches in all competitions, however, the club are understood to be confident they will reap the rewards of rotation come the end of the campaign - both domestically and in Europe.

Collectively, Chelsea's owners, board, sporting directors and coaching staff are in alignment that freshening up the starting XI is a necessity when combating the packed fixture schedule.

When the Blues return from the international break, they face a gruelling run of 11 matches in all competitions before the end of 2025 in the space of just four-and-a-half weeks.

Maresca, who won both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, is under no internal pressure and that is unlikely to change as the club have full faith that he will deliver more success in west London.

This time last year, the Chelsea head coach declared captain Reece James was unable to play two matches per week due to his injury history after previously undergoing surgery on his hamstring.

But Maresca has handled the right-back's fitness and conditioning diligently and now the England international is back to his best and has been one of the Blues' most-consistent performers this season.

A number of the club's summer signings, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Jorrel Hato are still finding their feet but both wingers have shown signs of settling in recent weeks after netting their first goals for the club.

Midfielder Andrey Santos is also being tipped for a big future at Chelsea after the Blues snubbed a number of approaches for his services in the transfer window following his eye-catching loan spell with Strasbourg.

It has also been forgotten that Chelsea have also had to make-do without their star man Cole Palmer, who has been battling a groin issue since the beginning of the campaign. There is optimism he is now edging closer towards a return.