Jamie Gittens has clarified his Chelsea future by confirming he intends to remain at Stamford Bridge and compete for a place under Xabi Alonso.
The winger has also praised the new head coach’s individual approach during the opening weeks of pre-season.
Gittens endured a difficult first campaign after joining from Borussia Dortmund. A persistent hamstring problem limited his impact, but he has returned fit and scored in Chelsea’s private victories over Crawley Town and Bromley.
The 21-year-old now wants to prove himself rather than pursue a transfer elsewhere.
Jamie Gittens Chelsea future confirmed before new season
Speaking during Chelsea’s pre-season tour, Gittens described Alonso as a world-class figure and “one of the best to do it”.
“He’s a very nice guy,” Gittens said. “He talks to us individually, speaks about what we can improve on, what we can do better.”
The winger revealed that Alonso has encouraged him to remain positive, take on defenders and continue creating chances. Gittens also believes working under a former elite midfielder and proven title-winning coach can accelerate his development.
Gittens faces considerable competition for minutes. Morgan Rogers has arrived from Aston Villa, while Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevão and Geovany Quenda are among Alonso’s other attacking options.
However, Gittens has welcomed that competition and believes Rogers can raise Chelsea’s standards. He also said the squad’s ambition is to challenge for every available trophy next season.
The next opportunity to strengthen his claim comes against Western Sydney Wanderers. ReadChelsea’s match preview places Gittens in the predicted starting side after his two early pre-season goals.
The Jamie Gittens Chelsea future appears settled. He must now turn his encouraging summer into consistent Premier League performances.
