\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Maresca has promised to make changes for this game, given Chelsea’s Premier League and Champions League commitments.<\/p>\n
No matter how much he rotates his squad, though, Chelsea will still be overwhelming favourites, even if that tag does not sit easily.<\/p>\n
“These are the worst games,” says Maresca. “Football is full of these kinds of games where the favourite one, they can lose.<\/p>\n
“That’s why the focus has to be on Cardiff.”<\/p>\n
For Cardiff, there is nothing to lose. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“You think about the difficulties you may face, but the young players here have got no fear.<\/p>\n
“They really attack every single situation that they come up against and try and overcome every obstacle.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n