Wrexham boss says FA Cup history can inspire his team to pull off shock win against Chelsea | OneFootball

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is looking to channel both the club’s storied FA Cup history and his own remarkable past triumphs as the Red Dragons prepare to face Chelsea in the fifth round this Saturday.

The mention of the FA Cup in North Wales inevitably conjures memories of Wrexham’s stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Arsenal in 1992, when the then-Fourth Division side famously toppled the Gunners with late goals from Mickey Thomas and Steve Watkin.

This season, they have already demonstrated their giant-killing credentials, eliminating Premier League Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties in the third round following a thrilling 3-3 draw at home.

Parkinson himself holds a special place in his heart for encounters with Chelsea, having masterminded Bradford’s incredible 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge in a fourth-round tie back in 2015, a match where his side recovered from a two-goal deficit.

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Phil Parkinson is eyeing another incredible FA Cup win (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

"I was thinking about it this week leading into the game," Parkinson reflected on that memorable day.

"The build-up to that, the preparations and the principles we took into the game. We were two down but playing well in the game. We didn’t let it knock us, we kept believing and stuck to the game plan and got the goal back before half-time. Obviously it was a memorable second half!"

He intends to instil that same belief in his current squad.

"We mentioned that to the players, on Saturday everything is possible. I think you’ve got to go into every game believing and if not you may as well not turn up.

“We’ve got to go in with belief but also an understanding of the underdog mentality and what boxes we’ve got to tick to make this evening as difficult as possible for Chelsea."

That famous victory over Chelsea came two years after Parkinson guided League Two Bradford to the League Cup final, underscoring his impressive record in cup competitions.

At Wrexham, he oversaw a 4-3 win against Championship side Coventry during their National League days in 2022-23, subsequently pushing Premier League-bound Sheffield United to a replay in the next round before their exit.

With three consecutive promotions now under their belt, Wrexham are currently a formidable force in the Championship, occupying a play-off spot and enjoying a run of three straight wins, suggesting their cup exploits are anything but a distraction.

"When we beat Ipswich (in the fourth round) we spoke to the lads about putting the Chelsea game on the backburner, concentrate on the league form," he explained. "We go into this weekend with an ‘everything to gain, nothing to lose’ mindset, but also in a strong position in the league."

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Wrexham face the tough task of trying to take down Chelsea (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Wrexham’s impressive trajectory has fans dreaming of a fourth promotion and eventual Premier League football, making Saturday’s tie a crucial barometer of their readiness for the next level.

"All through the divisions we’ve had cup ties, like when we played Coventry and Sheffield United, and we’ve spoken to the players about having that test against better quality players, tactically and their physical power, of the next level," Parkinson added.

"This is the next stage for us against a team of Chelsea’s quality. The main thing on the night is to bring our best performance, but also for ourselves, to see where we are individually and collectively against a team of this standing."