Maresca, 45, was cautioned on Sunday for his animated celebration of Pedro Neto’s dramatic stoppage-time winner that secured a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The win was pivotal in Chelsea's push for European qualification, lifting the Blues into fifth place—the final Champions League qualification spot—on goal difference ahead of Nottingham Forest.
Forest, however, can reclaim fifth place if they avoid defeat against Tottenham later on Monday, adding further significance to the weekend's results in the race for European places.
Maresca's previous cautions this season came during matches against Newcastle and Bournemouth. His absence from the dugout will be a brief one, as he is eligible to return for Chelsea’s crucial clash with league leaders Liverpool on May 4, also at Stamford Bridge.
In the meantime, assistant manager and former Argentine international goalkeeper Willy Caballero is expected to assume touchline duties for Saturday’s match against Everton. Caballero, who enjoyed a stint at Chelsea as a player from 2017 to 2021, has been part of Maresca's backroom team since the start of the season.
The short ban comes at a critical juncture in Chelsea’s campaign, as the club looks to secure a return to Champions League football amid stiff competition and a tightly contested top-five battle.