Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson will be pleased with the 2-2 draw against Premier League side Chelsea.
In front of a 32,724 crowd at the Levi’s Stadium, Wrexham showed their quality against top opposition.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were clear favourites, but Parkinson’s men were keen to show that they could compete.
It was a closely contested game with Wrexham looking like they could have secured a big win for the club.
However, a late equalising goal by Chelsea’s Lesley Ugochukwu secured a draw for the Premier League club.
The Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be pleased with the performance and will be looking forward to the coming challenges ahead.
The Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor was in attendance to show his support for the Red Dragons and even though co-owner Reynolds was absent, he will be impressed by the result too.
Parkinson will be pleased by his players’ performance and will certainly be impressed with several key aspects of his side’s performance against Chelsea.
Three things Phil Parkinson will take away from Wrexham vs Chelsea
The quality of performance and mentality in the Wrexham squad
Chelsea was set to be a really tough opponent for the Red Dragons with the Premier League side looking for a victory in their first game with Maresca in charge. However, Parkinson’s side was determined to entertain their US fanbase and show their quality.
The players showed that they were able to compete physically with their opponents but also showed their quality on the ball, with impressive goals by Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott.
The former Hull City boss will be most pleased with the mentality of his side. The Welsh club continued their intensity after going 1-0 down and would eventually gain a 2-1 lead before a late Chelsea equaliser.
Squad players fighting for a starting role
Pre-season offers a great opportunity for players to impress the manager and fight for a place in the starting XI.
In Wrexham’s most recent fixture against Chelsea, Bolton and Marriott both got their name on the scoresheet and impressed the 56-year-old coach.
Bolton has been competing with Ryan Barnett for a starting role as the right wing-back. Against the former European champions, he was able to show his attacking credentials with a smart finish at the back-post.
After his January move to the Racecourse, Marriott struggled to find his goal-scoring form with only one goal to his name in a Wrexham shirt.
However, the former Derby County star impressed with a quality finish into the far corner. He showed his work rate by winning the ball back for his side, before receiving the pass to convert the counterattack.
Parkinson will be pleased with both players and will be evaluating who to start in the coming pre-season fixture vs Vancouver Whitecaps.
Versatility in the Wrexham squad
The former Bolton Wanderers manager has shown in pre-season that he likes his players to play different roles. New summer signing George Dobson is a holding midfielder but has featured as a centre-back in a 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth.
Against Chelsea, James McClean started as a forward, which would be surprising to the fanbase. The veteran has predominantly played as a wing-back for the club but has also featured in midfield.
After an impressive performance against the London club, the Wrexham manager will be looking at what players impressed him playing in different positions, and how that can help his side tactically in the coming season.