Alejandro Garnacho demonstrates a unique love for Wales, as Liam Rosenior has to defend taking a nerve-wracking risk with Chelsea squad rotation

Wrexham 2 v Chelsea 4 (aet)

FA Cup

Fifth Round

Talking Points

By Kaz Mochlinski at the Racecourse Ground

Alejandro Garnacho must love Wales. The Argentinian winger has played a pivotal role in both of Chelsea’s challenging visits to the principality in the cups this season, being vital to victories at Cardiff City and now Wrexham.

Garnacho scored the first and last goals in overcoming Cardiff City 1-3 in the quarter-finals of the Football League Cup in December, after being brought on as a second half substitute, and he was even more impressive in North Wales than in South Wales.

Exactly as he had done at the Cardiff City Stadium, Garnacho put Chelsea ahead for the first time at the Racecourse Ground, but, in the case of this FA Cup fifth round tie, it was not until extra-time, with the Blues having twice recovered from being behind.

He had already been responsible for Chelsea’s first equaliser, when cleverly released on the left by Liam Delap to get a quick shot away. It was stopped on the goalline by George Thomason, but rebounded in off the prone Arthur Okonkwo for an own goal.

Wrexham’s goalkeeper and captain was extremely unlucky to unknowingly concede in that way, but Garnacho was equally unfortunate not to be given the goal officially, since his strike was heading in when it started pinballing off the home players.

Chelsea’s £40 million summer signing from Manchester United has only netted once in the Premier League for his new club, and not since October. However, in the cup competitions, he has subsequently scored six times (in 11 appearances).

Garnacho also contributed crucially at Wrexham in the hosts being reduced to 10 men, in stoppage time at the end of the second half, with the match poised at 2-2, as it was his counter-attack down the left wing which drew a rash tackle from George Dobson.

The red card made extra-time easier for the top flight team, who were additionally assisted by the introduction from the substitutes’ bench of Marc Cucurella and João Pedro, underlining their vastly superior strength in depth.

Chelsea were able to leave Cole Palmer, Estêvão Willian, Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández out of their squad for this Saturday evening encounter, as well as keeping Reece James among the unused subs.

The Chelsea starting XI still cost £308.5 million to assemble, compared to Wrexham’s starting XI costing £20.9 million - underlining that, despite their Hollywood owners, the Welsh club continue to have a gigantic gulf to bridge to the Londoners’ level.

Nevertheless, Wrexham made the contest thoroughly nerve-wracking for their illustrious visitors, right up to the 125th minute when João Pedro produced a fine finish for 2-4, taking him to 11 goals in his last 12 games for Chelsea in all competitions.

Afterwards, the Blues’ head coach, Liam Rosenior, was unusually defensive about his selection and tactics, especially with regard to resting so many senior players ahead of the trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League four days later.

Rosenior’s 3-4-3 formation lasted less than an hour, at which point he took off Jorrel Hato - on his 20th birthday - and Roméo Lavia, who was making his first start for over four months as he comes back from another injury.

Remarkably, the hugely talented Lavia has not yet completed a full 90 minutes in 33 appearances for Chelsea over the course of three seasons since being signed from Southampton for an initial outlay of £53 million.