Despite a 5-0 loss to the Premier League side in pre-season, Rob McElhenney’s message to Chelsea will give cause for optimism for Wrexham fans.
Wrexham kicked off their pre-season tour of the US in the early hours of Thursday morning with a mouth-watering fixture against Chelsea. The Red Dragons faced the Premier League heavyweights in front of a packed-out 51,000-capacity crowd at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Reds lose 5-0 to Chelsea in valiant pre-season effort
A dominant Chelsea showed their level by running out 5-0 winners against Wrexham in their pre-season game. Ian Maatsen scored twice in the first half for the London club, before late goals from Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku and Ben Chilwell rounded things off.
Nevertheless, it was a valiant effort from the lads who got in some valuable minutes against top-level opposition. Familiarising themselves with higher level competition will surely only help them as they prepare for life in League Two next season, the fourth tier of English football.
“The last couple of goals have probably put an untrue reflection on the balance of the game,” manager Phil Parkinson said after the game.
“I thought we worked very hard and we had to because Chelsea have so many technical players and against a very good team I thought we had chances.
“When you get beat 5-0 against anyone there’s always a tinge of disappointment, but in general we’re pleased with how we’ve worked tonight it’s a great progression for us going into the next game in Los Angeles.”
Rob McElhenney’s message to Chelsea gives cause for optimism for Wrexham
It was not to be for the lads, but the game no doubt gave the players an insight into the level required to reach the pinnacle of English football.
Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have dreams of one day reaching the Premier League with Wrexham, and despite the heavy defeat, McElhenney gave reason for optimism.
After the game, McElhenney sent a message to Chelsea on Twitter hoping that one day in the not-too-distant future their paths with cross again.
McElhenney wrote: “Thank you @ChelseaFC !!!! Hopefully we’ll see you again in 5 years or so”.
Reynolds on dream of one day reacting the Premier League
It’s no secret that Wrexham’s Hollywood owners have ambitions of one day reaching the Premier League.
Speaking last season during their FA Cup run, Reynolds told ESPN : “We want to walk the walk, even as a fifth-tier club. We say this all the time, but we want to be in the Premier League, as crazy as that sounds to some people.
“If it is theoretically possible to go from the fifth tier in professional football all the way to the Premier League, why wouldn’t we do that? Why wouldn’t we use our last drop of blood to get there? We’re in it for the ride. This is a multidecade project.”
Next up for the Red Dragons on their pre-season tour is a LA Galaxy II. The Welsh side face the US team on July 22 at 07.30pm ET/12.30am UK at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.