Tammy Abraham believes good things are coming at Chelsea as he and his team-mates target three points against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
The young striker featured off the bench in the Super Cup against Liverpool, winning the penalty that Jorginho converted to make it 2-2 in extra-time. However, it was his own spot-kick in the shoot-out that proved decisive as Adrian denied him and the Reds won 5-4.
Abraham was naturally disappointed after the game but claimed the support of the dressing room had been reassuring and he was determined to respond in the right way.
‘I’m someone who believes in myself with penalties,’ the 21-year-old explained. ‘I scored a few important ones last season [for Aston Villa] but this one I missed so now it’s about how I react and get my head up. Everyone has put their arms around me and said it’s something to learn from.
‘The boys have made it feel like nothing has happened. It’s a great dressing room and now we just have to focus on Leicester in the Premier League. You can see the way the boss wants us to play and we showed glimpses of what we can do so we need to build on that on Sunday and hopefully get the three points.’
The Blues competed capably against the reigning European champions in Istanbul, producing a performance that Frank Lampard said afterwards merited victory. Abraham also felt the display was a positive one and provided encouraging signs for the coming weeks.
‘Even sitting on the bench and watching the first half, and the beginning of the second half, you could see the boys looked positive,’ he continued. ‘We created a few chances and you could see the difference from the Man United game – we pushed to the end.’
The focus quickly moves on in this most demanding of opening weeks. From Manchester and Turkey, attentions now switch to west London and the visit of the Foxes on Sunday afternoon. Stamford Bridge is sure to welcome club legend Lampard into the home dugout with great enthusiasm and Abraham feels the team can capitalise on the feel-good factor.
‘It still hasn’t really kicked in yet but when you’re given a chance like this you just have to give your all for the team,’ he reflected on his own opportunity this season.
‘I feel like we’re really getting somewhere and things are looking positive. The fans will be behind us. We’ve put in two good performances and I think they can see that so hopefully we can give them a performance.’