In the absence of the suspended Nicolas Jackson, and with Marc Guiu not yet fit to play, George led the line for the Blues on the occasion of his first Premier League start.

It is a role the youngster has sometimes performed in our UEFA Conference League campaign, and despite having little to go off against massed ranks of red shirts, our head coach was pleased with what he saw from George, believing he showed enough to be an option against Nottingham Forest next weekend.

‘He was very good,’ said Maresca. 💪

‘He was brave. He was a threat in behind and it was not easy for him because in Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, he was fighting with important defenders.

‘We tried to find a solution with a player from the Academy and overall, he had the penalty moment and was quite good.’

It was Cucurella who settled a tight contest with a fine header from Reece James’ cross. The Spaniard’s seventh goal of the season was his most important yet.

‘The assist from the right full-back and the goal from the left full-back, it’s the way I like to play,’ noted Maresca.

‘Cucu has scored this season similar goals against Brentford and Wolves. He is in the right position at the right moment. It’s not about how big you are, how tall or how small, Cucu is an intelligent player and he is helping us with goals.'

Maresca expanded on the progress Cucurella has made this season, and explained why his roots in the game suit our style.

'Cucu has a background in the Barcelona Academy, La Masia, so he grew up in a club where the philosophy, or the idea, that I like is similar,’ Maresca said.

‘So the reason why Cucu is doing so good with us is also because we know him and what he can do. The way we like to play is good for him, so it’s in both ways.

‘We try to work day by day, but I said before, it’s not important how big or small you are. It’s important to know where you have to be. He is doing very well.’