Chelsea teenager Jorrel Hato has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his debut season at Stamford Bridge, admitting that he is not playing as much as he would like but insisting he is willing to put in the work to change that.
Hato Opens Up on Chelsea Struggle: ‘I Know I Have to Improve’
The 19-year-old made just his fourth Premier League start for the Blues in Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal.
Since arriving from Ajax last summer, Hato has mostly watched from the bench while first-choice left-back Marc Cucurella takes the spotlight.
He has featured primarily in cup competitions, a significant shift for a player who was a regular starter in the Eredivisie for two seasons.
However, instead of complaining, the Netherlands international is focusing on the bigger picture. He understands that the jump from Dutch football to the Premier League is massive, and he needs to bridge that gap.
“I’m happy, of course,” Hato told the club’s in-house media.
“I came here this season. It is a big step, if you compare the Premier League with the Dutch league.
“I’m not playing every game, but I know I’m improving every day to get the minutes that I want.”
Hato’s attitude will please the Chelsea coaching staff. He isn’t demanding minutes; he is trying to earn them. He acknowledged that patience alone won’t get him on the pitch—development will.
“I know I have to improve for myself as well to get more minutes,” he added.
“But as I said, I try to improve every day, every training session, every game.”
Hato could get a chance to build on that development immediately.
With Cucurella’s fitness still uncertain for Wednesday’s clash against Aston Villa, the young defender might keep his spot for a vital top-four clash.
While the pressure is high at Villa Park, Hato insists the team’s mindset remains the same.
“It’s a big one, of course,” he said.
“Aston Villa are in the top four, and if we win, we get closer. But I think every game for us is important now until the end of the season.
“We go into it with the mindset to win every game, whether it’s Aston Villa or a different team.”
