Martino rotations will prevent another Barca flop: Cesc

Gerardo Martino’s policy of alternately resting key Barcelona players will help prevent the team suffering a similar slump to the one that wrecked last season’s Champions League campaign, according to midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Since taking over from the ailing Vilanova, Martino has implemented a policy of resting some of his top performers for La Liga games, including Fabregas and fellow Spain midfielders Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. ‘What happened last year was a lesson,’ Fabregas said. ‘We were in a mess and really weak towards the end of the season,’ he added. ‘From February on we were having to force things. We were lacking in bite at the time when everything was decided.'