“There’s So Much Pace” – Wrexham’s Ben Foster Impressed by Chelsea’s ‘Sharp’ Youngsters After 5–0 Friendly Loss in Front of 51,000 Crowd

Chelsea’s preseason game against Wrexham AFC was more than a friendly. There was a full house at Kenan Memorial Stadium, North Carolina. With 51,000 spectators, Chelsea youngsters impressed everyone in an electrifying environment. And Ben Foster wasn’t the exception.

Chelsea’s young brigade marked the start of Mauricio Pochettino’s era in style. The game was not only an opportunity for the youngsters to impress Pochettino but also to assess their skills. Wrexham, too, went into the game to measure themselves against a top team ahead of the EFL League Two season. Meanwhile, the Chelsea youngsters ran the show in the 5-0 rout of the Reds, leaving everyone stunned.

Wrexham goalie hails Chelsea young guns

Pochettino assessed several youngsters during the game. He started the likes of Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Diego Moreira, Cesare Casadei, and Andrey Santos for the game. It took less than three minutes for Chelsea to score past Ben Foster. The Blues’ 21-year-old left-back Ian Maatsen opened the scoring and doubled it in the final minutes of the first half. Soon the youngsters ran everywhere, leaving the Welsh club’s players gasping for breath.

The performances of the emerging Chelsea stars impressed the Reds star, Ben Foster. While speaking to the Chelsea Instagram account during halftime, Foster said, “Wow. It’s from this third here, the final third. As soon as they get the ball in the final third, wow. Runners down the wing, players coming inside going outside, and they’re always taking the ball on the run.”

“They’re either already running, or they’re picking it and running with it. So it just gets you on the back foot straight away, and it’s good to see. There’s so much pace, they’re so sharp,” Foster added. The energy of the Londoner’s young blood proved too much for the Red Dragons, as they lost 5-0. With the League Two season around the corner, Wrexham learned its lessons. 

Chelsea embarks on Mauricio Pochettino era

Pochettino couldn’t have imagined getting a better start for his Chelsea tenure. Yes, it was friendly, but his players responded emphatically. Crucially, the Argentine tested new signings for the game against minnows Wrexham. Chelsea had a disappointing season last term, as the club finished outside the top 10.

READ MORE: Despite Being 3-0 Down, Wrexham’s Unprecedented Favor Allowed Chelsea to Break Major Rule Due to Unexpected Injury in US Friendly

It was a below-par season for the Blues, especially after going berserk in the transfer window. The new owners broke the bank, but things didn’t go well. They sacked Graham Potter in mid-season and appointed legend Frank Lampard as interim. Chelsea was looking for a new manager and signed Pochettino. With a major clear-out this summer, Chelsea has set their squad to the requirements of a new manager. 

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With enormous experience under his belt, Pochettino will hope to turn things around next season. Where do you see Chelsea finishing next season?