The Wrexham story, with its sprinkling of Hollywood glamour in the form of owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is one that has captured the imagination of countless football fans across the UK and the USA.

Yet Phil Parkinson, Wrexham's head coach, appreciates the club are taking on a football A-lister in the shape of Chelsea this evening. 'Last year we were playing Nantwich Town in our first official pre-season game and now we're playing Chelsea,' he said.

'Me and Shaun [Harvey, advisor to the board] were saying that when we both came on board that we didn't expect two years later to be playing in front of 50,000 people.'

For Pochettino, his staff, and the Chelsea players, the match provides an opportunity to put into practice all the work done on the training pitches. And there has been no let up since the Blues touched down in the U.S on Monday evening.

Escaping the stifling heat and humidity for Chelsea players yesterday at training, which took place in the morning and evening, was impossible. Sweat was constantly wiped from brows; shirts were repeatedly pulled off soaked torsos.

Pochettino and his staff continue to work the players hard. There can be no let up in their preparations for the season ahead while out in the U.S. 'We are working to build the physical condition first,' Pochettino explained when he faced the media in Chapel Hill.

'After we develop our way to play, and it is important to see if the young players are ready to play, to compete for a place in the future, or to help the team work this season.'

Several of the younger players in the travelling squad – and those who have been incorporated into the first team this summer – had their first taste of performing in front of Chelsea supporters at last night's opening training session.

The work done on the grass was unrelenting with Pochettino overseeing drills on the main pitch and a second group, including Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke spending part of the session training on a second pitch at the facility.

'We're running a lot, doing double sessions,' outlined left-back Marc Cucurella. 'You see your teammates suffer, in pain, running a lot, and this creates good relationships. This is one of the most important things. If you don't have this, it is impossible at this level.’

There is no substitute for the competitive environment provided by a match-day, however. And it is against Wrexham that Pochettino and his staff will be able to gain a further reading on the work done thus far at Cobham and in the U.S.

The match may also prove one of many firsts. Not only is it Pochettino's opening game in the Chelsea dugout, but the likes of Malo Gusto, Andrey Santos, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson could all pull on a blue shirt for the first time.

That provides natural intrigue for supporters. And given how many will cram into the Kenan Memorial Stadium, it will certainly not feel a run-of-the-mill pre-season fixture.

'I'm very excited about our first friendly game,' added Pochettino, who then made his perspective on the game clear. 'But when you are at Chelsea, all the games are official.

'Football is about to win to create good feelings. Even if we play a friendly with young players it is about that mentality.'

Our pre-season fixture against Wrexham is free to watch on the Official Chelsea App and website. Kick-off is scheduled for 01:00 Thursday (UK time).

More information here.