Denis Zakaria has confirmed he is hoping to win over Chelsea enough for them to sign him on a permanent basis despite his lack of action so far.
Chelsea signed Denis Zakaria on a season-long loan from Juventus on deadline day. It was a move that materialised so late in the transfer window that the midfielder was not sure it would go through.
However, they managed to get the deal over the line in time. For Zakaria, it represented a second transfer of 2022 after he had joined Juventus from Borussia Monchengladbach in January.
Zakaria played in two Juventus matches this season before his switch to Chelsea. Since his arrival in the Premier League, the Blues are yet to use him.
However, if he does well in time, they will have the option to buy him permanently for £30million.
Despite being overlooked so far, Zakaria has now revealed he is working to make his spell with Chelsea a permanent one.
Asked by The Athletic if he wants to persuade the club to sign him for good via his eventual performances, Zakaria replied: “Of course.
“If you don’t do good, you don’t have the chance to stay. Chelsea is a big club and if you’re not good enough, you can’t stay at this club.
“I am here to prove I deserve to be here, that I am a good player and I can help the team. We will see what happens at the end.
“I hope only the best for Juventus. I hope they can win the title in Italy and I would be very happy for that. Juventus is a big, big club, like Chelsea. I learnt a lot there, with big, big players. And I can only be grateful for that because they gave me a lot of chances and everything. I am a fan of Juventus and I follow Juventus, of course.
“But now I am a Chelsea player, so I’m focused here and I want to give my best to help the team. For me, I’m a new player, but I feel like I’ve been here one or two years already.
“It was not an easy solution (to join Chelsea) but in the end, I am a player, I need also this challenge to be better. For me, I am better when I take challenges. To change everything, like language, is not easy, but I think I can do it.”
Denis Zakaria confirms Potter approval amid fight for place
Denis Zakaria is competing for a place in midfield with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic at Chelsea. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are also options there.
For the 25-year-old, it will be a case of adapting to the level of quality he finds himself surrounded by.
While admitting he does not want to spend much time on the bench, he has said he is willing to work for his place in Graham Potter’s plans.
Zakaria added: “Every player is really amazing in this team. I can say that here the quality of the players in training is one of the best I’ve seen.
“Of course, Juventus is also really good quality. But here, at Chelsea, I have to say it is really an amazing-quality team.
“Also, you improve yourself in every training (session). I came here to improve myself and that’s why I feel like it will be a good decision to come here.
“It is not easy to be on the bench. Like every player, I want to play. But yes, we have to train hard and prove ourselves. In the end, when you have a chance to play, you must prove yourself in that moment.
I spoke with the new coach but it was the first meeting to see where my position was and to get to know each other. After that, we’ve not had the time to speak again, but we will have the time to speak in the future.
“In the end, I have to work 100 per cent on the pitch and in training. After that, we’ll see.
“In the first meeting, he (Potter) said he likes the style of player I am. In training, he is pushing every player, which is good.
“We have a lot of games and I think every player will have their chance. It’s in that moment the player has to take their chance and play well.
“After that, you see what happens. I am training hard to be ready for that moment and be ready to have a place in this team.
If Chelsea do not redeem the Switzerland international at the end of his loan spell, he will be back under contract with Juventus until 2026.
There is plenty of time before the end of the season, though, for him to make his case to Potter.
