Former Chelsea defender has worked with Jorrel Hato and his past comments should concern Enzo Maresca

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Chelsea recently completed the signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax and with good reason.

Enzo Maresca finished last season with few options in the left-back position. Marc Cucurella was actually the only recognised left-back Chelsea had in their squad when the campaign concluded.

Chelsea now plan to use Hato at left-back to create competition for Cucurella, who played over 50 games last term.

One coach who knows Hato very well, though, is likely to disagree with the Blues’ thinking.

• READ MORE: Jorrel Hato names his four greatest attributes on the pitch, Chelsea fans will love one of them

Winston Bogarde thinks Jorrel Hato’s best position is centre-back

Former Chelsea defender Winston Bogarde has worked with Hato at Ajax and on a personal level.

For Bogarde, Hato’s best position is in central defence, and the retired Netherlands international has criticised Ajax in the past for not deploying him there.

In an interview with ESPN last year, Bogarde said: “For his age, Jorrel is one of the biggest talents in Europe in his position. He’s not super tall, of course, but that’s why we’re working on how he approaches aerial challenges. We’re also working a lot on his positioning, depending on the zone. I look at all aspects of his game.

“His best position is left centre. If one of the biggest talents chooses to stay at Ajax because that’s where he has the best chance of playing time and further development, then I find it incomprehensible that he’s being put in any other position.”

Currently, Chelsea’s cover for Levi Colwill in the left centre-back position is Benoit Badiashile, but the Frenchman has struggled to stay fit over the last couple of seasons.

It means that Hato could get opportunities to play in central defence at Stamford Bridge.

It is clear, though, that Maresca will mostly use him at left-back. But if Bogarde genuinely feels that his compatriot is more suited to a central role after working with him, that should be a concern to the Chelsea boss.

Hato may find it easier to settle in if Chelsea sign his Netherlands teammate Xavi Simons. It has been claimed that Maresca has held talks with Simons about a switch to west London this summer.

Where Jorrel Hato played last season

In his career so far, Hato has spent a lot of time in central defence. That being said, he was barely used there during the 2024/25 season.

Ajax saw him as a left-back and Chelsea clearly do as well. In his maiden Premier League campaign, some at the club may also feel that it will be easier for Hato to face wingers as opposed to physically dominant centre-forwards.

In the future, maybe he will return to centre-back, but Chelsea need cover for Cucurella. That is certainly something that cannot be disputed.