What happened the last time Chelsea had their manager banned from the touchline as Enzo Maresca picks up suspension

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Chelsea will be without Enzo Maresca for their next Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday.

Maresca picked up his third yellow card of the season after celebrating Chelsea‘s winner against Fulham over the weekend.

Pedro Neto’s goal sent the 45-year-old into wild celebration, but it was clearly too much after Anthony Taylor decided to caution him.

Mauricio Pochettino was also handed a one-game touchline ban last term, and the match he missed did not go well for Chelsea.

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca shares where Pedro Neto’s best position is after winner against Fulham, ‘we all know…’

Chelsea battered by Newcastle United in absence of Mauricio Pochettino

Chelsea were without Pochettino for their Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park during the 2023/24 campaign, with the Argentine forced to watch from the stands.

What Pochettino saw was an absolute horror show, as the Blues went on to lose 4-1 that afternoon.

Reece James was also sent off, while it took less than 15 minutes for Alexander Isak to put Newcastle ahead.

James and Co have to do much better in their latest game without a manager in the dugout if they want a different outcome this time around.

Malo Gusto picked up a bad injury in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Fulham, so the 25-year-old could start at right-back this Saturday.

Josh Acheampong is also an option for the Blues, so they should be able to cope in Gusto’s absence.

Enzo Maresca has been shown two yellow cards from the same referee this season

Maresca’s yellow card at Craven Cottage was not the first time that the Italian has been booked by Taylor in the current campaign.

Taylor also cautioned Maresca at the Vitality Stadium, so the 46-year-old is responsible for two out of the three yellows that have seen the Chelsea head coach receive a touchline ban.

Taylor was already unpopular with Chelsea fans, and the above will do nothing to change that. Whatever the case, with it being so tight in the race for Champions League qualification, the Blues cannot afford a repeat of what happened at St James’ Park last season.