![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3q9yNABF5PKdJSHsuad8v3.jpg)
Chelsea defender Malo Gusto is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final, despite being given high praise for his immense performance in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Manchester City.
The French right-back did a fine job in shutting down City winger Jeremy Doku at the Etihad Stadium – but he insists that means nothing going into the Blues' Wembley showdown with Liverpool, bluntly stating that he "could be sh*t".
Gusto was speaking to The Athletic as he looks to help Chelsea win their first League Cup in nine years.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R4437zedspcjwNyFGAy9Ng.jpg)
Reacting to the plaudits he received for his display against the champions, Gusto, 20, said: "It's nice, but I don’t really care about [praise]; I just want to become a better person and better player. The game against Doku, people talk about it, but it's just one game. Maybe this weekend I could be sh*t and the game after, I could be better. I just have to stay focused, to keep [the] good things.
"I came to Chelsea because I wanted to play against great players. The last game was complicated, but it was good for me to learn, to get confidence [for the Carabao Cup final]. It was good for me. I have good cardio, good legs. This is my football."
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F5XKgey3qup32rocrGZgu5.jpg)
Gusto joined Chelsea from Lyon for an initial £26.3m in January last year and has made 24 appearances for the club so far.
Injury to the Blues' first-choice right-back, Reece James, has afforded the France international – who made his senior debut for his country in October – the chance to feature regularly for Mauricio Pochettino's side this season.
More Chelsea stories
Frank Lampard was right to call out Chelsea's players for a drop in standards during his interim tenure last season, says one current Blues star.
Meanwhile, a big-name Arsenal player has been linked with a summer switch to Stamford Bridge.
And the Blues could rival Manchester United for one of the most prodigious strikers in Europe.