Marc Cucurella’s Injury Presents Challenge for Jorrel Hato Ahead of Arsenal and Aston Villa Matches
Before joining Chelsea, Jorrel Hato had established himself in the Ajax first team.
At just 17, he made history by captaining Ajax and played over 110 games before his £36 million transfer to Chelsea in August 2025.
As the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year, the Dutch player brings strong technical skills to the team, boasting a 91% passing accuracy in the Premier League this season.
However, Hato’s style, which focuses on blocking opponents, is different from Marc Cucurella’s aggressive approach that disrupts attackers’ plays.
Cucurella’s injury now gives the 19-year-old a key opportunity, as he has mostly played in cup matches.
This could aid Hato’s growth, but his recent full debut in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Hull City raised concerns.
While he had five recoveries and two interceptions, he lost the most physical duels in the match (13), a worrying sign ahead of tougher matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa that could impact Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League aspirations.
Liam Rosenior’s Strategy: Adjusting Chelsea’s Defense
Since taking charge, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has positively influenced the team, with players noting a newfound freedom under his leadership.
He now faces a significant challenge: maintaining defensive consistency without a key player.
Rosenior lauded the team’s “mental strength” during their winning streak, but Cucurella’s injury requires a tactical shift.
This marks the first major selection issue under Rosenior, risking the momentum built from eight wins in 11 games.
The young coach must find effective ways to use Jorrel Hato.
He needs to decide whether to use Hato as a traditional left-back for defensive balance or as an inverted full-back to take advantage of his passing skills.
Options for Chelsea: Malo Gusto, Andrey Santos, or Tactical Changes
If Hato struggles with this newfound role, Rosenior may need to explore alternative strategies and personnel to cope with Cucurella’s absence.
One possibility is moving Malo Gusto, typically a right-back, to the left while allowing Reece James to return to the right side.
This wouldn’t be new for Gusto, as he played there during the 2024/25 season and offers a stronger physical presence than Hato.
Another option could involve Andrey Santos, with whom Rosenior has prior experience, to play an inverted role for additional support on the left.
A broader tactical shift is also possible. After mostly using a 4-2-3-1 formation, Rosenior might transition to a 3-4-2-1 setup.
This change would allow wingers like Pedro Neto to act as wing-backs, supported by three central defenders, reducing defensive pressure on Hato and minimizing his exposure to one-on-one situations.