Ryan Reynolds looked beside himself as the Wrexham co-owner learned that his Championship side will face Premier League big beasts Chelsea in the FA Cup round-of-16 stage.
Under the stewardship of the Deadpool actor and his co-owner Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney), the Welsh team battled their way back into the English Football League and booked back-to-back-to-back promotions to reach the domestic second division.
Wrexham have previously met Chelsea in pre-season as part of their United States tours in 2023 and 2024.
But following Monday’s FA Cup draw, next month’s meeting will represent the first competitive fixture between the two sides – something Wrexham fans could have scarcely dreamed of before their 2021 takeover.
Reynolds shared the video of himself watching the draw in suitably star-studded company: that of Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman.
In the footage, both men are on tenterhooks watching live footage of the draw on an iPad, with Jackman the first to react to ball number seven – Chelsea’s – being drawn ahead of Macclesfield’s defeat to Brentford.
CONTENT WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Reynolds then appeared to be in a state of shock, waiting for the announcer to confirm it was the Blues they would be facing before repeating: ‘Wait, wait, wait – we’re at home to Chelsea?’
‘That’s what you wanted!’ Jackman added before the two men high-fived.
‘Yes, f***!’ Reynolds said, adding a shocked ‘what the f***’ as the reality of the fixture sunk in.
‘Chelsea at the Racecourse,’ Reynolds finished in near-disbelief.
Wrexham have already beaten Premier League opposition to reach the fifth round, knocking out Nottingham Forest in the third round on penalties last month.
Phil Parkinson’s men then despatched Championship opponents Ipswich Town to find themselves in the hat on Monday evening.
But for all of their excitement at hosting Liam Rosenior’s heavily decorated side, they will no doubt welcome them with no little trepidation.
The Blues put four past fellow Championship side Hull on Friday evening to book their spot in the fifth round, doing so without the help of stars including Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.
They won by the same goal difference in their 5-1 clash with Charlton in January, Rosenior’s first game in charge of the squad he inherited from former manager Enzo Maresca at the start of the year.
Parkinson will be in no hurry to remember the 2023 scoreline from the two teams’ earlier meeting Stateside.
Under then-manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Blues won 5-0 thanks to goal from universally departed scorers Christopher Nkunku, Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, and Ben Chilwell.
Nkunku scored again for Chelsea a year later, as did Lesley Ugochukwu, but the tie ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
