Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has insisted that the next Chelsea manager must give Jorrel Hato a chance.
Stam could be speaking directly to Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, as well as ex-Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager, who is leading the race to become Chelsea’s next boss.
After a rocky start to life in west London, the 20-year-old, whom the Blues signed from Ajax in the summer for £37 million, has established himself as one of the most reliable defenders at the club.
In an interview with ComeOn, Stam took a dig at Chelsea owners BlueCo while explaining why Hato deserves to remain a regular in the starting lineup.
Stam said, “Jorrel Hato is a very talented player. When I saw him play as a centre-back when Liam Rosenior was there, I was quite impressed.
“I think he even played a big game against Man City, from what I recall. He’s very comfortable on the ball, which is typical for a player from Holland. He needs to be comfortable on the ball and able to dribble into midfield to create an extra man.
“He needs to be quick, which he is, and he’s quite aggressive in his style of play. He can also play as a left-back, where he played for a longer period at Ajax.
“It’s a shame, but that’s how Chelsea operates, bringing in young players, not always giving them an opportunity, and then maybe selling them on when they do well. It’s a shame for a player like him because he needs to play and improve by playing a lot of games.
“Hopefully, he’ll have a bigger role next season and a greater impact. Of course, that depends on the manager who comes in. At Chelsea, when a new manager arrives, they need to perform and be successful immediately.
“That often means managers pick more experienced, older players because they think it’s easier to take the next step with them. I don’t always agree with that.”
Hato was rarely given a chance by Enzo Maresca, despite having been identified as someone who could provide cover across the backline. When Chelsea secured his signature, the former head coach noted his wealth of experience as a key factor behind his arrival.
However, the Netherlands international was often overlooked in the opening weeks of the season, with Maresca pointing to the step up in physicality and intensity in the English top flight. In the final eight weeks of the Italian’s tenure, Hato played just once.
