In a night that will haunt Chelsea fans for weeks, Enzo Maresca’s Blues stumbled into a shocking 2-2 draw against Azerbaijani underdogs Qarabağ in the Champions League. What was supposed to be a routine romp in the far-flung city of Baku turned into a nail-biting thriller, with the hosts snatching a historic point and leaving the Premier League giants red-faced. But in the post-match fallout, Maresca threw a curveball, pinning the blame on a lingering “hangover” from this summer’s grueling Club World Cup—sparking debate over his so-called ‘illegal formation’ tactics that prioritized rest over ruthlessness.
The midweek trek to Europe’s eastern frontier was anything but smooth sailing for Chelsea. Expected to dominate, the Blues found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime, stunned by Qarabağ’s fearless counterattacks. It took a second-half spark from substitute Alejandro Garnacho to salvage a draw, leveling the score at 2-2 and sparing Maresca’s side from outright humiliation. For Qarabağ, this was a landmark moment: their first-ever non-loss against an English club in eight encounters, breaking a dismal streak of seven defeats. Their next test? A showdown with Liverpool on January 28 in the final league phase matchday, marking their ninth clash with Premier League opposition.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/SI_FootballClub/status/1986164693078003923
Here’s a quick rundown of Qarabağ’s rocky history against English sides:
| Season | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 Qarabağ | Europa League |
| 2015–16 | Qarabağ 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur | Europa League |
| 2017–18 | Chelsea 6–0 Qarabağ | Champions League |
| 2017–18 | Qarabağ 0–4 Chelsea | Champions League |
| 2018–19 | Qarabağ 0–3 Arsenal | Europa League |
| 2018–19 | Arsenal 1–0 Qarabağ | Europa League |
| 2024–25 | Tottenham Hotspur 3–0 Qarabağ | Europa League |
| 2025–26 | Qarabağ 2–2 Chelsea | Champions League |
Maresca, ever the pragmatist, has made rotation his mantra this season, juggling lineups in cup ties to keep his stars fresh amid a packed schedule. Against Qarabağ, key midfield dynamos Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández started on the bench, while right-back Malo Gusto got a breather and Wesley Fofana was shielded from any risks. But fate intervened early—Roméo Lavia’s injury after just eight minutes forced Caicedo into action.
Defending his choices in the aftermath, Maresca didn’t mince words: “The intention was to rest Enzo, to rest Moisés, to rest Malo, to rest more players, because they are not able to play every three days. They need recovery from last season.” He doubled down, pointing fingers at the summer’s Club World Cup as the real culprit. “The Club World Cup affects [us] a lot. We try to rotate. When you win, no one mentions all that. When we don’t win, everyone is focused on that, and now I think it’s important to recover energy for Saturday [against Wolves in the Premier League] and go again.”
Chelsea’s Club World Cup odyssey kicked off on June 16, a mere three weeks after their triumphant Conference League final in late May. They went the distance, clinching glory with a final victory over Paris Saint-Germain on July 13—just over a month before the 2025–26 Premier League curtain-raiser. With minimal downtime, the squad’s fatigue was inevitable, fueling Maresca’s controversial ‘illegal formation’ strategy—a bold rotation blueprint that’s now under fire for costing them dearly.
Was this a masterclass in squad management or a tactical foul? As Chelsea lick their wounds and gear up for domestic battles, Maresca’s defense has fans divided: genius foresight or a convenient excuse for an epic blunder? One thing’s for sure—the Blues can’t afford more flags on the play if they’re to conquer Europe this season.