Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shared his thoughts on the club’s latest acquisition Jorrel Hato.
Having captained Ajax before his move to Stamford Bridge, the Italian coach praised the 19-year-old’s leadership and maturity. On Sunday, Hato officially joined the Blues and began training with the side at Cobham over the week.
“He is much more mature than his age; he has captained Ajax and this kind of thing. But with him, the messaging is the same. He is in a different country, a different league, a different tempo, and a different intensity. He needs to adapt, but for sure, there are no doubts he is going to help us,” Maresca remarked.
Even with Hato’s cool and leadership background, the gaffer reminded supporters that the young defender will require time to adjust to the English game. Compared to the Eredivisie, the Premier League offers a quicker pace and more physical challenge.
The Dutch U21 international is only one of several fresh faces adapting to life in West London during what has been a demanding summer for the Blues. Other arrivals include Estevao, Jamie Gittens, and Joao Pedro, who all participated in training this week.
He added: “For sure, they need time, first of all, probably Jamie is the only one who knows a little bit [of] the country and the Premier League, even if he’s very young. Players like Hato and Estevao need to adapt. Fortunately for us, Dario (Essugo), Andrey (Santos), Liam (Delap) and Joao Pedro were already with us in the USA, so it’s much easier for them.”
Some of Chelsea’s summer acquisitions have also been integrated in part thanks to the Club World Cup campaign. Spending time with the team in the United States helped many players get ahead in adjustment.
The Club World Cup champions’ supporters will be wishing Maresca’s fresh additions can rapidly get up to pace and help the team goals as the new season nears quickly.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
