After a record-breaking last season, Wrexham AFC is leaving no stone unturned in preparing for the upcoming season. After all, they will be playing in League 2 after an absence of 15 years. In order to bolster their preparation, the Red Dragons are going to the USA for a pre-season tour against Premier League giants Chelsea and Machester United; along with second-division MLS sides. Ahead of their first match against Chelsea, the Blues manager revealed his potential starting lineup against the Red Dragons.
Mauricio Pochettino hints at fielding a relatively young squad against Wrexham AFC
Pre-season tours are an important exercise for managers to try out new lineups and experiment with tactics. Considering this will be Mauricio Pochettino’s first game as the gaffer, we can see experiments galore. In the buildup to the match, the former PSG manager revealed that tomorrow he would field a relatively inexperienced side.
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“Tomorrow is going to be a good chance to see the young guys play against a tough team,” said Pochettino. The reasoning behind this as per him was that playing against a tough team would be a good indicator of the young players’ quality. “It’s going to be a good opportunity for them to show they are ready to play for a club like us. No pressure, but they need to show it tomorrow”
On the flip side, Wrexham boss Parkinson suggested that the Chelsea fixture would play a key part in ensuring fitness levels are appropriate before the start of the new season.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson meanwhile sees Chelsea clash as a “Good workout”
On the other hand, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson saw the Chelsea matchup as an exercise to track pre-season progress. “Pre-season progression,” Parkinson told reporters when quipped about expectations from the Chelsea game.
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He then explained the two major metrics of pre-season progression – Physical training and data collection for tactical planning. “Physically it’s a good workout, make sure the data is correct. An understanding that we’re up against a top-class team and we will be able to work on our structure without the ball.”
He ended the press conference by shrugging off fears or pressure. All he wants from his player is to respect the jersey and show why they play for the Red Dragons! “When you pull on a Wrexham shirt, there’s an expectation to give a good account of yourself,” said Parkinson.
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