Jamie Gittens views the arrival of Morgan Rogers at Chelsea, a club-record £117 million signing from Aston Villa, not as a threat to his own position but as a positive step towards the team reclaiming titles. Gittens, who is nearing full fitness after a hamstring injury that ended his previous season in January, said the increased competition is a welcome development.
"We want to win everything – that is our ambition, to win the Premier League, the FA Cup, win anything that we’re in," Gittens told reporters at Chelsea's training session in Sydney. "Bringing in a player like Morgan will hopefully raise the bar to win titles."
He expressed relish for a friendly rivalry with Rogers, a fellow Manchester City academy alumnus. Gittens also demonstrated sportsmanship during the Sydney training session when he paused an interview to sign the shirt of a young fan who had briefly entered the pitch, drawing cheers from the assembled supporters.
"I feel at 92 percent," Gittens stated regarding his current fitness level. "I’m feeling much better, more confident now my body is better, the hamstrings are good, so I’m waiting for the season to start." He detailed his summer training regimen, including time in Portugal and Marbella, to recover from his first significant hamstring injury. "It was a challenge at the start, but I’m better now so I feel more confident. It was hard for me, but I’m here now and hopefully I can get back and tell myself that I did good in the situation."
Gittens has set personal objectives for the upcoming season, which he has documented privately, emphasizing his desire to succeed at Chelsea and showcase his abilities. "This is such a big club. I want to succeed here. I need to show people what I can do. I’ll keep working hard. I’ve shown glimpses, I would say. Small bits. But this season will be a good season."
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly encouraged Gittens to maintain his proactive approach. "He wants me to keep being positive, to keep on taking on players, to keep on creating chances and to keep on pushing myself to the maximum," Gittens said of Alonso's message. He described Alonso as approachable and attentive to individual player development, noting that the manager's coaching style can suit wingers, similar to the 4-3-3 formation used previously.
Gittens acknowledged the departure of teammate Alejandro Garnacho, who failed to impress after his £40 million move from Manchester United. Gittens focused on his own path, stating, "To be honest, I just look at myself. I don't look at anyone else. I just focus on myself and try to be better."
Having previously played against Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen during his time at Borussia Dortmund, Gittens expressed confidence in the manager's tactical acumen and his own ability to perform under his leadership. Chelsea is scheduled to play friendlies against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham in Sydney before continuing their tour in Asia.