Here’s Chelsea’s big problem: A team that can’t settle

December 11, 2025 Oliver Obel

Chelsea’s 2–1 defeat in Bergamo on Tuesday didn’t just complicate their Champions League path it reignited the debate over whether Enzo Maresca’s shifting line-ups are stalling the team’s progress.

The loss leaves Chelsea mid-table in their group with two matches remaining, adding urgency to questions about consistency and identity during a demanding stretch of fixtures.

Maresca rejects concerns over “too much rotation”

Speaking after the match, Maresca pushed back on suggestions that his approach has become disruptive. He noted that, despite five changes from the Bournemouth draw, most of the squad on the pitch has been ever-present in major fixtures.

“We had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham, Barcelona and Arsenal,” he said, adding that the core of the team has remained intact even if individual roles shift from game to game. In his view, rotation reflects necessity, not uncertainty.

Townsend: “They haven’t found a consistent XI”

On BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily, former Premier League winger Andros Townsend offered a sharper assessment. He argued that the pace of tactical tinkering has made it difficult for Chelsea to settle into a rhythm.

“It seems Chelsea haven't found a consistent team and starting XI,” Townsend said, suggesting that the squad’s depth has allowed Maresca to “chop and change” more freely than might be helpful. He pointed to the defensive reshuffle in Bergamo and similar adjustments in league matches as signs of a team still searching for its core structure.

Townsend contrasted this with Chelsea’s run at the Club World Cup, where a relatively stable lineup helped shape a confident, coherent campaign.

A squad still finding balance

Chelsea have now made at least five changes in three straight matches against Leeds, Bournemouth, and Atalanta a trend that has not gone unnoticed among supporters or pundits. While fixture congestion can force managers to rotate, the volume and timing of these changes have raised questions about whether the team is sacrificing fluency for freshness.

Some around the club argue that using such a large squad makes rotation inevitable. Others believe a more fixed spine would help integrate new signings and stabilize form.

A pivotal stretch ahead

Chelsea’s margin for error in Europe is narrowing. With two group-stage matches left and domestic fixtures piling up, the coming weeks may force Maresca to decide whether to double down on flexibility or commit to a more regular starting XI.

Either way, the pressure to find a lasting formula is building and Tuesday’s defeat ensured the conversation isn’t fading anytime soon.

Sources: BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily; post-match press conference.

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