this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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Pep was way ahead of the curve on this one.
Didn't help Wenger that much tbh, we were always crippled by injuries come Feb
Mostly because refs back then were totally cool with allowing teams to just kick them off the park
"It's disrespectful!" :D
Managers occasionally used to complain about CL clubs resting players and fielding weakened sides against their opposition.
The same managers then started resting their best players against Mourinho's Chelsea to preserve their strength for matches they had a chance of winning, and everyone just kind of accepted that rotation is what we do now.
Claudio Ranieri was first manager I remember who really started rotating players in the Premiership. The British press nicknamed him the tinkerman because of it
Emma Hayes has been building her Chelsea Women squad in this mould for years too. So many versatile players. Genuinely at least half of the squad can play at least three different positions.
Erin Cuthbert is her dream. Has played wing back on both flanks, defensive midfield, box-to-box, attacking midfield, both wings.
A lot is made of CFCW's depth in terms of numbers, but it's the versatility that is key - and Hayes has built it that way.