Wrexham Manager Comments on Colwill and McClean Brawl in Chelsea Friendly
In a pre-season match in Santa Clara, Chelsea and Wrexham played to a spirited 2-2 draw, kicking off their U.S. tour.
A brawl erupted between Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Wrexham’s James McClean after a late challenge by McClean. Colwill reacted strongly to being caught by the Republic of Ireland international, leading to a shirt-grabbing tussle that teammates had to separate.
Chelsea initially led with a goal from Christopher Nkunku, but Wrexham responded with goals from Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott. Chelsea equalized late in the game with a goal from Lesley Ugochukwu.
Levi Colwill and James McClean having a tussle 2 minutes into a preseason match pic.twitter.com/VyI5qL7PsT
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) July 25, 2024
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson praised his team’s performance and determination. He highlighted the significant financial difference between the clubs, noting Chelsea’s heavy spending in recent transfer windows.
“We faced a team with a massive budget and held our own,” Parkinson said. “In the first half, we defended well, and in the second half, we improved our play and scored two goals. The players put in a tremendous effort, and I’m very pleased.”
He acknowledged the progress Wrexham has made, contrasting their current status with their past in the National League. Despite Chelsea’s numerous second-half substitutions, Parkinson was proud of his team’s resilience and performance.
Next, Chelsea will head to Indiana to face Celtic at the Notre Dame Stadium.
