Gittens eyes fresh start under Alonso
Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens has confirmed he remains a central part of manager Xabi Alonso’s plans for the upcoming season. After a challenging debut campaign at Stamford Bridge following his £52m move from Borussia Dortmund, the 21-year-old is looking to establish himself under the new leadership.
Gittens, who struggled for consistency as Chelsea finished 10th last season, noted that Alonso’s tactical philosophy emphasizes individual creativity and aggressive attacking play. The winger cited the squad’s collective respect for Alonso, whose pedigree as a world-class midfielder at Real Madrid and Liverpool has provided a clear authority within the dressing room.
Injury recovery and fitness update
The winger is currently managing his return to full fitness following a hamstring injury sustained in January, which sidelined him for the remainder of the previous campaign. Gittens described the recovery process as a difficult period, noting it was his first significant muscle injury. Currently, he reports being “90% fit” after completing a specialized training camp in Portugal and Spain.
His progress has been visible in recent behind-closed-doors matches against Crawley and Bromley, where he successfully found the back of the net. Gittens acknowledged that while he has only shown “small glimpses” of his potential thus far, he is focused on proving his value in the new system.
Looking ahead at Stamford Bridge
Gittens expressed optimism regarding the club’s direction, specifically highlighting the arrival of Morgan Rogers—a former teammate from their time in the Manchester City academy—as a move that will “raise the bar” for the squad. As Chelsea looks to move past a trophy-less season, Gittens remains firm in his ambition to contribute to a team that he believes is still aiming to compete for every available title.
A single, mud-caked shin guard lay abandoned on the locker room floor as the training session concluded.
