Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea baptism takes place at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in North Carolina on Wednesday evening, as the Blues square off against League Two-bound Wrexham.
While the Hollywood-owned Red Dragons revelled in a highly-publicised success story last season, the story could hardly have been any more different for those upstairs at Stamford Bridge.
Match preview
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A penny for Thomas Tuchel's thoughts during the Chelsea plight of 2022-23, as Todd Boehly's decision to relieve the German of his duties is yet to be vindicated, with both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard failing to inspire a much-needed turnaround in fortunes.
Chelsea's cut-throat owners had originally committed to a long-term project with Potter before swallowing their pride and attempting to win the fans back with the re-hiring of Lampard, whose sacking by Everton did not exactly inspire confidence within the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Despite the vast array of multi-million pound talent at his disposal, Lampard oversaw an abysmal stretch of end-of-season form, masterminding just one win over Bournemouth and ultimately landing Chelsea in mid-table mediocrity, closer to the relegation zone than the European places.
Rivals fans had a field day as the big-spending Blues languished to a 12th-placed finish, but optimism is gradually growing following the appointment of the attack-minded Pochettino, as well as a mass exodus of ageing and unwanted players, some of whom have boosted the club's coffers with significant transfer fees.
All five of Chelsea's pre-season games will take place in the United States, where Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Fulham will be lying in wait for the Premier League Summer Series, before Borussia Dortmund seek a slice of revenge for last year's Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea.
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While Chelsea's owners could hardly have been more vilified by their own fanbase last year, Wrexham's rise to National League stardom under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney dominated national and international headlines for months on end, and with good reason too.
Engaged in an exhilarating two-horse race with Notts County for the sole automatic promotion place, Wrexham edged a five-goal spectacular with their closest challengers 3-2 on April 10 - thanks to the most dramatic of last-gasp penalty saves from Ben Foster - before sealing the crown with an outrageous 111 points to their name.
Reynolds and McElhenney were in attendance at the Racecourse Ground on April 22, as a 3-1 success over Boreham Wood confirmed their status as champions, sparking unrestrained celebrations in front of their overwhelmed owners, who have since treated their promotion heroes to the life of Hollywood luxury.
However, Phil Parkinson's side are now back down to business ahead of their return to the Football League following a 15-year exile, and following a 4-2 success over Bala Town, Wrexham will also test their mettle against Manchester United during their United States sojourn, as well as La Galaxy and Philadelphia Union's second teams.
Wednesday's match will mark the first meeting between Chelsea and Wrexham since the Blues left the Racecourse Ground with a 1-0 friendly win to their name in 1984, prior to which the two sides were often familiar foes in the old League Division Two; the most recent competitive showdown in 1982 was won by the Red Dragons.
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Team News
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As well as the 11 senior players that have been booted out of the exit door, Chelsea have a few concerns to manage with existing performers, as Marcus Bettinelli (unspecified), Armando Broja (knee) and Benoit Badiashile (hamstring) remain in the infirmary and have been joined by the luckless Wesley Fofana, who is recovering from ACL surgery.
Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang are also absent as their agents try to force exits, but international stars Levi Colwill, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Levi Colwill and Gabriel Slonian have made the trip. Reece James has also been left at home due to illness but could travel later this week if he recovers quickly.
Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku may make their Blues debuts in North Carolina too, but a depleted midfield contingent only holds Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka at present.
Meanwhile, Wrexham have made just the one acquisition so far - acquiring the services of defender Will Boyle from Huddersfield Town - but arguably their standout bit of business has been tying 40-year-old Foster down to a new contract for their return to League Two.
The Red Dragons have already received a pair of fitness boosts too, as Aaron Hayden and Bryce Hosannah both returned to action in a recent practice match after being forced to sit out the final few weeks of the 2022-23 campaign.
Playing a starring role in the Wrexham fairytale with 38 goals in 46 league matches last term, striker Paul Mullin will soon strut his stuff in the fourth tier again after also racking up an impressive 32 strikes in the 2020-21 League Two season with Cambridge United.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Gusto, Chalobah, Silva, Chilwell; Gallagher, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka; Sterling, Jackson, Mudryk
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Foster; Boyle, Tozer, O'Connell; Barnett, Young, Lee, Cannon, Mendy; Mullin, Dalby
We say: Chelsea 4-1 Wrexham
Some of the Wrexham contingent may be pinching themselves as they step out onto the pitch to face Premier League opposition, but reality will likely set in for Parkinson's crop not long after the first whistle has blown.
While Chelsea are still finding their feet under Pochettino and have limited options in midfield and attack in particular, the Blues' quality should come to the fore in a comfortable North Carolina triumph.
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Ben Knapton
