Chelsea's Jamie Gittens is on a mission to prove himself under the watchful eye of new manager Xabi Alonso – and he's got his sights firmly set on making an impact. After a tough debut campaign dogged by injury, the 21-year-old winger is raring to go, convinced that Alonso's arrival has brought a much-needed spark to the Blues.
"He's one of the best in the business," Gittens gushes about his new boss. "World-class midfielder? No question! I've had the privilege of watching him play for Real Madrid and Liverpool – he knows how to get the most out of his players." And it seems Alonso has big plans for Gittens, urging him to "keep being positive, keep taking on players, create chances, and push yourself to the limit". It's a mantra that clearly resonates with the young winger.
Alonso's track record speaks for itself: leading Bayer Leverkusen to a Bundesliga title and German Cup in his first full season was no mean feat. And what a contrast it is to Chelsea's sorry showing last term – finishing 10th and missing out on European football altogether. But Gittens believes the new signings, including Morgan Rogers (that £117 million British transfer record) will be the catalyst for change, elevating the squad's performance and sending a clear message that Chelsea's ambition remains to "win everything".
On a personal note, Gittens is making a robust recovery from his hamstring injury in January, which ruled him out of the latter stages of last season. He's already netted in Alonso's behind-closed-doors matches against Crawley and Bromley, and after a productive training camp in Portugal and Spain, he claims to be "90% fit" – just what the doctor ordered.
Gittens has admitted that rehabbing from his first ever muscle injury was no easy feat. But with his hamstrings now on track, he's feeling more confident than ever. And it shows: this season is shaping up to be a defining moment for the young winger – "I want to succeed here," he insists. "I need to show people what I'm capable of. I've given them small glimpses so far, but this season will be my time to shine."