Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says Chelsea’s senior players should “Question” options in Enzo Marzo Marsca’s team.
The Argentine made seven changes to his starting XI for the 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday.
It was the fifth consecutive match in all competitions that Maresca made at least seven changes to his starting XI.
“The players want to play, they want to build relationships,” the former England captain said on the Wayne Rooney Show.
“If you keep chopping and changing then the players will not be happy. I think it will come back to bite them.
“If they get the results all the time then you don’t question it but if they don’t, you have to ask.”
Rooney believes it is up to Captain Reece Reece James and other experienced players in the Chelsea Squad to address the Maresca issue.
“I think most clubs now have a leadership team and as a team you have to go and question the manager,” he added.
“You hear people talk about ‘Player Power’ but it’s not player power.
“I’ll be worried if the team keeps changing. If I’m in that [leadership] Group I would tell my teammates saying ‘Look, I’m not happy with this’. ”
Chelsea have made 85 changes in 16 matches this season – the most of any top Premier League team.
However, speaking of the draw in Azerbaijan, Maresca defended his rotation policy.
“The [selection] is always because we think that the plan of the players is the right one,” said Maresca.
“The purpose was to rest in Moses [Caicedo]Enzo [Fernandez]Malo [Gusto] and many players.
“They are not able to play every three days. The Club World Cup affects a lot. We try to rotate. Without us, we have nothing, no one, we have nothing, everyone is focused on that.”