Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has been candid about Jorrel Hato’s journey since he joined the Blues. Let’s be honest: it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The young defender, who made waves over at Ajax, faced what Maresca described as a “struggle” adapting to life at Stamford Bridge.
In the summer transfer window, Chelsea splurged around £37 million to snag Hato, thinking he could become a long-term asset for the club. But here’s the thing: with Marc Cucurella ahead of him in the left-back lineup, the 19-year-old wasn’t exactly going to jump straight into the first team. As the season unfolded, he found himself with just three starts and two appearances as a sub across all competitions.
Yet, hope shone through in his last game. Coming off the bench against Liverpool, Hato made a noticeable impact, helping Chelsea secure a win against the Premier League leaders. Now, he’s gearing up for something special: a matchup against his former team, Ajax, in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
### Maresca Sees Bright Future for Hato
During a recent pre-match press conference, Maresca acknowledged that Hato’s journey hasn’t been the smoothest. But it sounds like he’s starting to find his groove. “We’re really happy with Jorrel since he arrived,” Maresca shared. “He’s adapting to different competitions and English football in general. The first few weeks were tough for him—getting used to the physicality and intensity. But he’s improving every day.”
When asked whether Hato is better suited as a center-back or a left-back, Maresca had some praise up his sleeve. “I think he can do both. He’s a versatile player,” he explained. “He can play central defense or on the left, and he’s even capable of joining in during attacking phases. That versatility will definitely come in handy.”
### Is It Time for Hato in the Starting XI?
Looking ahead, Chelsea faces Sunderland on Saturday, and you can bet Maresca will be considering some squad rotation. This could be the perfect opportunity to give Hato his first Champions League start with the team.
Cucurella already got a breather during the international break, having sat out the second of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers. Still, it hasn’t been a light load for him—he’s racked up 65 appearances for Chelsea since the start of the 2024-25 season and has been a key player for his country as well.
As Chelsea pushes for points in the Champions League, it’s essential for the younger talents like Hato to gain experience in high-stakes matches. And with the EFL Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers coming up next week, Hato could have the chance to notch up 90 minutes of play in just a few days—an exciting prospect considering he hasn’t had that much game time in quite a while.
So, as Jorrel Hato gears up for this critical match, it’s hard not to feel a sense of anticipation. It seems like he’s ready to show everyone what he’s capable of—and Maresca is here for it, cheering him on every step of the way. It’s going to be an interesting few games ahead, especially with a blend of seasoned players and fresh talent vying to make their mark on the pitch.
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