Chelsea's new journey under head coach Enzo Maresca kicks off at Levi's Stadium in the United States on Wednesday, July 25, as they face Wrexham in their first pre-season friendly.
Chelsea’s Fresh Start Under Maresca Begins | Home Win = 1.27
Chelsea enters this pre-season with a new head coach, Enzo Maresca, who recently guided Leicester City to promotion. After ending last season on a high note with a five-game winning streak, Chelsea managed to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League.
Despite this, the club's management opted for a change, parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino and bringing in Maresca. This friendly match against Wrexham is the first of several scheduled for Chelsea, including games against Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
These matches are crucial for Maresca to evaluate his squad and implement his strategies ahead of the new season where there is sure to be a lot of pressure to do better than they did last season under Pochettino.
Wrexham's Impressive Pre-Season | Away Win = 8.00
Wrexham, famously known for their new owners, one of whom is Hollywood star, Ryan Reynolds, did an incredible thing last season by gaining promotion to English League One and now they look to prepare themselves for tougher opponents.
Managed by Phil Parkinson, Wrexham began their pre-season with a convincing 5-1 win over Hanley Town before travelling to the United States where they were tested by Premier League opposition, securing a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Following the match against Chelsea, Wrexham will head to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps before wrapping up their pre-season against Fleetwood Town.
Key Players & Team News:
For Chelsea, this match is an opportunity to blend new like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga and Tosin Adarabioyo with existing players and give young talents a chance to shine. Maresca will focus on building team cohesion and fine-tuning tactics for the upcoming season.
Wrexham, on the other hand, will look to build on their strong pre-season performances. Phil Parkinson will use this game to assess his squad's readiness for League One and further refine their strategies.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 6.40
The last competitive encounter between Chelsea and Wrexham was in 1982, with their most recent friendly ending in a 5-0 victory for Chelsea. | Specials Market: Home & Over 3.5 = 1.89
Wrexham’s draw with Bournemouth and their solid pre-season form suggest they could pose a challenge for the Blues. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 & Yes = 1.60
Chelsea have kept two clean sheets in their last 5 games while Wrexham have kept the same in their last 5 games. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 & No = 1.89
You can check out the Chelsea vs. Wrexham pre-season friendly on MSport here.
