Will the rotation cost Chelsea – amid the near-Qarabag shock?

Literally and figuratively, you never know which Chelsea will turn up.

Chelsea have gone from negative to positive throughout this season, playing well against bigger teams but often not as well against so-called lesser opposition.

In big matches, the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes and Garnacho usually start.

However, Maresca is managing the fitness of these three players, as is also returning striker Liam Delap. In addition, key players like Cole Palmer and Levi Colwell were injured.

There are other mitigating factors behind the extreme nature of Maresca’s rotation, given that Chelsea endured a 13-month season last year, due to winning the Club World Cup in July, which also shortened the pre-season to less than two weeks.

The Italian added: “We have players, and the goal tonight was to rest Enzo [Fernandez]to the relief of Moises [Caicedo]To Malu’s relief [Gusto]To rest more players, because they cannot play every three days.

“They need to recover from last season, as you say, 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 focuses on that and now I think it’s important to get the energy back for Saturday and go again.”

However, rivals such as Tottenham and Arsenal have made fewer rotations in the last few weeks, in back-to-back matches, something which is certainly designed to help build cohesion and consistency despite the two north London clubs’ differing fortunes recently.

Mariska was not helped by disappointing performances from some of the up-and-comers.

Alongside Hato, strikers Jimmy Gittins and Tyreke George, as well as midfielder Andre Santos, all aged 21 or under, struggled against a plucky Qarabag side who have proven to be killers of Europe’s giants this season having already beaten Benfica and Copenhagen.

Midfielder Romeo Lavia also started, but he dropped out after just four minutes, leaving Chelsea with ten players for a short period before he was replaced.

There must be real concerns about the long-term fitness of the Belgium international signed from Southampton for £53m in 2023.

He has suffered 10 injuries, been sidelined for 568 days and missed 87 games since joining Chelsea, according to Transfermarkt. He played just 29 games and did not complete the full 90 minutes for the club.