Maresca picked up his third yellow card of the season for encroaching onto the pitch celebrating Pedro Neto’s dramatic late winner at Fulham. With that comes a one-game ban, so the Italian will take his place in the stands today, even if modern technology means he can remain in constant contact with the bench.

Maresca confirmed his ex-Malaga team-mate and former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero will lead proceedings from the technical area.

‘I know Willy from many years ago,’ said Maresca.

‘We played together and since then we always have been in contact, and from the moment that we finished as players, [talked] about doing something together. He has been with me since my journey started. Willy’s background for sure means he can help a lot with the relations with players.

‘Danny Walker is the other assistant. Danny has been with me since I was under-23 coach [at Man City]. They both help me a lot.

‘There is also Roberto [Vitiello] that is not on the bench, but probably today he will be on the bench.’

Maresca says he is happy to sit by himself in the stands, although were he not so focused on the game he would ‘love to share the moment with my four kids’.

As well as calling on his assistant managers and coaches to help guide the team against Everton, Maresca wants to see his senior players rise to the occasion. It is a role he sometimes performed during his playing career.

‘In almost all the clubs where I've ever been, I was one of the captains, so probably when the manager is not there, it’s for the leadership group to also step forward, to take responsibility because yes, the manager is not there,' he said.

‘The assistant manager is there, the coach is there for sure, but you also as a player probably you need to take more responsibility.’