Wrexham Show Grit and Determination in Thrilling Pre-Season Draw with Chelsea
In a fiery pre-season friendly that saw tempers fray in the United States, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson praised his team’s fighting spirit and competitiveness after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Chelsea. The match, which was hosted at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, was marred by a 10-man brawl between James McClean and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill just two minutes in.
The Reds, who have been building momentum under Parkinson’s guidance, more than held their own against the Blues’ star-studded lineup. In fact, Wrexham’s manager felt that his team’s determination and grit were the key factors in a match that saw both sides evenly matched.
"We’ve taken on a team that has probably spent about a billion pounds over the last two transfer windows. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with them," Parkinson said in his post-match interview. "First half, we were good out of possession. Second half, we married both sides of the game together really well, we got two goals. That’s a hell of a shift the lads have put in today, and obviously I’m very pleased."
Wrexham’s performance was all the more impressive considering the gulf in quality between the two teams. Chelsea, a club that has consistently competed in the Champions League, made 10 changes at halftime, while Wrexham, who were in the National League just two years ago, showed remarkable resilience in standing strong against the Blues’ rotated lineup.
The match was sparked into life when McClean and Colwill clashed in the second minute. The Wrexham winger barged into the Chelsea defender as he received the ball, prompting a heated exchange between the two players. It took over 10 players, including match officials, to finally break up the fight, which briefly halted the game.
While neither player received a yellow card, it’s likely that a more severe punishment would have been handed out in a competitive match situation. Nevertheless, Parkinson was proud of his team’s response to the incident, which showed that Wrexham are a force to be reckoned with.
"The lads are pleased and so they should be. We give everything, we fight for every ball over the pitch, and we showed that tonight," Parkinson said.
For Wrexham fans, the performance will be a source of great encouragement as the team continues to build towards the new season. With their determination and grit, the Reds will be looking to make a real statement in the upcoming campaign.
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