Wayne Rooney: Chelsea’s senior players should question Enzo Maresca’s team selections

Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says Chelsea’s senior players should «question» Enzo Maresca’s team selections.

The Italian 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 across all competitions that Maresca has 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.

«When you keep chopping and changing then the players won’t be happy. I think that will come back to bite them.

«If they are getting results all the time then you can’t question it but if they’re not, there has to be questions asked.»

Rooney believes it is up to captain Reece James and other experienced players in the Chelsea squad to address the issue with Maresca.

«I think most clubs now have a leadership group and as a group you have to go and question the manager,» he added.

«You hear people talk about ‘player power’ but this isn’t player power.

«I’d be concerned if the team kept changing. If i was in that [leadership] group I’d be speaking to my team-mates saying ‘Look, i’m not happy with this’.»

Chelsea have made 85 changes in 16 matches this season – by far the most of any Premier League team.

But, speaking after the draw in Azerbaijan, Maresca defended his rotation policy.

«The [selection] is always because we think the plan with the players is the correct one,» said Maresca.

«The intention was to rest Moises [Caicedo], Enzo [Fernandez], Malo [Gusto] and more players.

«They are not able to play every three days. The Club World Cup affected a lot. We tried to rotate. When we win, nobody mentions that but when we don’t, everyone is focused on that.»

Earlier on the podcast, Rooney said he was perhaps a «bit harsh» for suggesting Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had «downed tools» after signing a new deal with the club.

Rooney said in October that Van Dijk’s body language was a «big concern» and that he had failed to lead the team this season.

The Dutchman, who signed a new deal with the club towards the end of last season, described the criticism as «lazy».

Following Liverpool’s Champions League win against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Van Dijk was interviewed on Amazon Prime, who had Rooney as a pundit.

«I think the comment that I signed my new deal and then it was like ‘that is it’ and I let it slide, I think that was a bit… but that’s my personal opinion and we move on,» said Van Dijk.

«Maybe I was a bit unfair with that comment,» said Rooney.

«Maybe I was a bit unfair because I don’t know him that well as a person.»

However, Rooney says he stands by his comments about the level of Van Dijk’s displays this term.

«From a performance point of view I think I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing and I felt I was right,» said Rooney.

«Van Dijk will judge himself by them [high standards]. When he reflects on his performances this season he’d be the first to say they haven’t been at the standard he’s set.»