Behind the scenes in Chelsea training ahead of Wrexham

Chelsea are gearing up for their first pre-season friendly of the summer and the Blues trained in front of a stadium of supporters ahead of their clash against Wrexham in North Carolina

We take a look at what was learned from the session.

Pochettino's conversations

It was not simply playing staff who were present at Wakemed Soccer Park on Tuesday but some senior members of Chelsea's hierarchy. Pochettino was deep in conversation with Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley as players warmed up in the North Carolina humidity, while owner Behdad Eghbali watched on from the sideliness before engaging in conversation with the Blues boss at the close of the session as players met with fans.

It's hard to think that transfers wouldn't have been on the agenda at some point, and with Brighton and Caicedo both to be in the USA too soon for the Premier League Summer Series, perhaps more conversations await.

Training XI

After a larger session for the full group, Pochettino seemed to provide some additional focus on a specific group of 11 players, who worked on their shape and patterns of build up play and recovery against some stationary training equipment. The remaining players went to a training field just outside of the stadium complex to carry on their work as the group who remained in the view of supporters were repeatedly briefed and debriefed to their movements.

The group was comprised of Jamie Cumming, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Bashir Humphreys, Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei, Diego Moreira, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ian Maatsen, Nicolas Jackson. They first attacked a goal with Cumming in before he was included in the shape of the possible starting lineup vs Wrexham.

Chelsea's full back looked to be intrinsic to attacking movement with wingers attacking inwards and Santos and Casadei looking to pick the ball up from very deep positions to begin attacks. Nicolas Jackson led the line and happy to drop the ball deep before attacking, with wingers attacking the back post for low passes across the box.

What was notable is Pochettino deciding when the Blues had lost the ball and adamantly ensuring that recovery was quick for players to recover back into position and to get play underway from Cumming once again.

This group then took on another XI. Albeit one that is unlikely to take to the pitch tomorrow as a group of its own with Dujuan Richards only involved in training sessions. He started up front and was joined by a makeshift group.

Lucas Bergstrom saw Alfie Gilchrist, Thiago Silva, Lewis Hall and Ben Chilwell in defence with Conor Gallagher in midfield, and Mason Burstow and Christopher Nkunku in central positions too. Raheem Sterling and new-signing Angelo Gabriel provided points of width.

Thiago Silva is a big deal

The was no shortage of football shirts around Wakemed Soccer Park. Chelsea's summer business appears like it will have left many disappointed with plenty of people donning Christian Pulisic shirts with a smattering of the likes of Kai Havertz and even Joao Felix layering the stands. In truth, former players may have outnumbered current on the back of supporters' shirts.

However, there were people in River Plate and Argentina shirts looking to capture the attention of Enzo Fernandez and Mauricio Pochettino, of course a contingent in support of Wrexham too and plenty of Chelsea shirts from throughout the decades. The excitment that both teams were in town was palpable, and should a player linger at all too long near the tunnel, fans would flood down the stand and begin calling their names.

There was something pure about supporters looking to take the opportunity taking the rare opportunity to connect with their heroes. One player perhaps captured the attention of fans more than any others as while players signed autographs for very appreciative supporters, the chant of 'Oh Thiago Silva' started up to ensure the 38-year-old new exactly how well-liked he was.