It turns out a shift in personal guidance might be all Jamie Gittens needed to truly hit his stride in a Chelsea shirt.
Jamie Gittens’ debut campaign at Chelsea was far from smooth sailing. After completing a £48.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund, persistent hamstring injuries plagued the 21-year-old throughout the season, restricting him to just 12 starts and a modest return of a single goal.
However, pre-season under new manager Xabi Alonso has offered a fresh start. Fully fit and thriving under Alonso’s hands-on coaching, Gittens has hit the ground running.
He found the net in warm-ups against Crawley Town and Bromley before scoring again in Chelsea’s 6-4 tour victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, signaling a promising resurgence.
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A hat-trick in his first game under Alonso!
Jamie Gittens explains his Chelsea transformation
As many will have expected, the influence of Xabi Alonso has rubbed off on Jamie Gittens, with the winger putting his development down to the Spaniard this pre-season.
“He’s been very hands-on with me, especially. He’s been very – how would I call it – positive towards me. He’s a great coach and a great guy to be around.
“For him to be giving me advice in these games and training sessions is the best thing for me and for the team as well, especially. So I’m grateful that he is our coach.”
The natural replacement for Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho’s departure left a massive hole on Chelsea’s left wing, but Jamie Gittens looks ready to step right into it.
When Xabi Alonso arrived it looked as if Gittens could have been one of the first ones out the door, but now he’s completely turned things around.
While injury struggles slowed Gittens down at first, a full pre-season has brought back that electric burst of pace. Under Alonso’s guidance, he isn’t just offering width; he’s adding goals to his game.
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