Photo: Ank kumar / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Jamie Gittens says he is fit and confident heading into his second season at Chelsea, having spent part of his summer in training to accelerate his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 21-year-old joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund last summer but managed only 27 appearances in all competitions — 12 as a starter — with his campaign ending in January after the muscle problem.
'It was a real challenge at the start because it was the first muscle injury I have had,' Gittens said. 'It was hard for me, but hopefully I can look back and tell myself that I've done well in this situation. I'm feeling much better now. I'm feeling more confident. My hamstring is good.'
Gittens said his objective for 2026/27 is straightforward. 'I just want to show everyone what I can do. I've just shown glimpses so far, I would say, so my objective is to keep getting better, keep working on myself, then this season will be a good one.'
The attacker also pointed to the arrival of new head coach Xabi Alonso as a significant factor in his positive outlook. 'He was a top player, and he's obviously a top coach. For him to come in and teach us, it's the best thing for us to improve as a team.'
Gittens said Alonso has given him clear personal direction. 'He's told me to just keep being positive, to keep taking on players, keep on creating chances, and to keep on pushing myself to the maximum.'
On collective ambitions, Gittens set out an expansive target for the squad. 'We want to win everything. That's our ambition: to win the Premier League, to win every cup. Our quality is there for sure. As a team, we've got great individuals on the pitch who can do amazing things, but we've got to try to put it all together.'