Cardiff v Chelsea: Pep proteges Barry-Murphy and Maresca reunite

It is not only Maresca who Barry-Murphy will know in the opposition dugout at Cardiff City Stadium, the Irishman having coached several Chelsea players at their previous clubs.

“It’s a little bit unusual because of the crossover between the amount of players who’ve been at Manchester City and even back in the day at Rochdale, where I was manager of Robert Sanchez, or he managed me. No, I love him,” Barry-Murphy jokes.

“I was at Leicester last season and Facundo Buonanotte was there, brilliant player on loan from Brighton. Then there’s Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap – who’s suspended – at Manchester City. All those guys, unusual connection.”

Maresca has promised to make changes for this game, given Chelsea’s Premier League and Champions League commitments.

No matter how much he rotates his squad, though, Chelsea will still be overwhelming favourites, even if that tag does not sit easily.

“These are the worst games,” says Maresca. “Football is full of these kinds of games where the favourite one, they can lose.

“That’s why the focus has to be on Cardiff.”

For Cardiff, there is nothing to lose.

Four points clear at the top of League One, playing attractive football with a team packed full of local young talent and welcoming former Champions League winners to their home on Tuesday, the Bluebirds have rediscovered their joy this season.

“The biggest thing always I learned from the players is there’s different spells in my career where an occasion like tomorrow night was quite a daunting task,” says Barry-Murphy.

“You think about the difficulties you may face, but the young players here have got no fear.

“They really attack every single situation that they come up against and try and overcome every obstacle.

“No matter what happens tomorrow, I’m sure the players will give every single thing they have for the club and come out the following day better players for it.”