...By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Wrexham, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, has arranged another friendly match against a Premier League team.
The Welsh outfit will play Chelsea at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Stadium on July 19 as part of the 2023 FC Series.
Wrexham, who could win the National League title this weekend, will also play two other matches against unconfirmed teams on the east and west coasts of the US.
Although Wrexham will be underdogs in their matches, Chelsea’s struggles this season, which has seen them languishing in the bottom half of the table, may provide an opportunity for an upset.
Wrexham’s popularity has increased in the US thanks to the involvement of Reynolds and McElhenny.
By the time the match against Chelsea comes around, Wrexham will likely have secured a Football League spot again while the Blues will have a new manager, as interim boss Frank Lampard is unlikely to be retained.
Fans of other clubs have ridiculed Chelsea’s poor form, with many jokingly tipping an easy win for Wrexham.
One fan quipped that the match will “get Wrexham’s confidence up before the season,” while another joked that it would be an “easy win for the boys at Wrexham.”
A third fan questioned the calibre of Wrexham’s opponents, expressing disappointment that the Welsh team didn’t get to play another top-six team.
A fourth fan tweeted their congratulations on the easy win, while a fifth fan predicted that leading scorer Paul Mullin would have a field day against Chelsea, asking if there weren’t any better teams for him to play against.
Commentary:
The fact that Wrexham, a team in the lower leagues, has arranged a friendly against a Premier League heavyweight is testament to the popularity and influence of Reynolds and McElhenny.
It also shows that football is becoming increasingly global, with teams from different leagues playing each other in various competitions.
Fans are excited about the prospect of Wrexham causing an upset against Chelsea, especially given the Blues’ poor form this season.
However, as with any football match, anything can happen on the day, and the outcome is never guaranteed.
It will be interesting to see how Wrexham fare against Chelsea and whether they can use this friendly as a stepping stone towards success in the future.
