Estevao Willian and Alejandro Garnacho struck for the Blues in a scratchy 2-2 Champions League draw in Azerbaijan.
Maresca said afterwards, "The intention is always, you know, when we make changes, is because the intention is always, because we think that the plan with the players that they start against is the correct one. I think today, I don't know, the feeling that it's about, you know, is more, because we start in the right way, we score the goal and then, again, we concede two goals, especially in the first one with 10 players.
"So, for me the big difference today has been, especially in the second box, in our box, we concede two goals that we can avoid and in their box, for the amount of times that we are there, probably we can be more clinical.
"I think I've tried to explain already many times. We have players, the intention tonight was to rest Enzo (Fernandez), to rest Moises (Caicedo), to rest Malo (Gusto), to rest more players, because they are not able to play every three days. They need recovery from last season, as you said, 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 is focused on that and now I think it's important to recover energy for Saturday and go again."
Maresca also said, "I think we start in the right way, we were in control of the game, we scored the goal and then when we conceded the first goal, after four or five minutes, I don't remember, we conceded the second one. So it becomes every time more difficult. Second half, I think we were much better compared to the first half. But again, every game I think it's a chance for all of them to show the reason why they are here.
"They are a good team, I said already a few days ago, they are a good team, they are doing well. And especially at home, it's difficult."