Chelsea's disappointing draw against Brentford sparked frustration among fans and raised questions about coach Enzo Maresca's team selection. By resting several key players, Chelsea failed to capitalize on opportunities, leading to a lackluster first-half performance with only six shots. Improvements followed in the second half after the stars returned, but the winless away streak extended to eight matches. As competition for Champions League spots intensifies, Maresca defended his rotation strategy against the backdrop of a congested schedule but is left with a lingering concern about the team's form.
"Not all of them were 100%," he said. "The idea was to start one way and finish another way. The plan nearly worked because we created more in the second half but the volume probably wasn't enough to win the game."
The bigger concern is, although Chelsea remain fourth, the fight for the Champions League places is looking increasingly competitive, with Manchester City, Aston Villa and Newcastle all within three points of the Blues.
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