Enzo Maresca told he’s been leaving out ‘difference-maker’ at Chelsea this season

Ajax head coach John Heitinga says the strength and ‘quality’ of Chelsea’s squad is demonstrated by the fact a ‘difference-maker’ like Jorrel Hato has struggled for minutes under Enzo Maresca this season.

Hato is preparing to lock horns with Ajax in the Champions League group stage this evening, just two months after leaving the Eredivisie outfit in a £37million transfer move to west London.

There is no guarantee of Hato playing a part at Stamford Bridge, though, with Marc Cucurella firmly established as Maresca’s first-choice left-back amid fierce competition for places in Chelsea’s defensive ranks.

Hato – who can also play at centre-half – has been limited to just two starts in the Premier League this season and was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Dutchman is also yet to feature in Europe this term – remaining on the bench for the Blues’ two previous contests against Bayern Munich and Benfica.

Facing the media ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Ajax, Maresca was full of praise for Hato, but admitted the teenager was still getting up to speed and adjusting to life in a new environment.

‘We are very happy with Jorrel since he arrived,’ the Chelsea head coach told reporters.

‘He is trying to adapt a little bit to different competitions, English football, but we are very happy with him

‘The first two, three weeks he struggled a little bit in terms of physicality, in terms of intensity, but he is getting better and better.’

Asked whether he saw Hato more as a centre-back or a full-back, Maresca replied: ‘I think he can play both. He is a very good player.

‘He can be a central defender or full-back, but also he can join a midfielder, attacking phases, so I think he can play different positions.’

Heitinga is aware of the daunting challenge that awaits his Ajax side at Stamford Bridge and believes Hato’s peripheral role this season says a lot about the difference in quality between the two teams.

‘They have a lot of quality in every position,’ the Ajax boss said at his pre-match press conference.

‘To name one example, Jorrel Hato was one of our best players at Ajax. He is bought by Chelsea and he is sitting here on the bench. He hardly plays.

‘That says a lot about this Chelsea team, about the quality, because Jorrel was a difference-maker for us.’

On Hato, the ex-Everton and Netherlands defender added: ‘Of course, he needs the time. Just like with us.

‘The guys we have attracted – you have to give them the time.

‘But if a player is bought for so much money and hardly plays here, that says a lot about the strength of this Chelsea team.’

Though Hato has struggled for regular game-time at this early stage of his Chelsea career, it’s clear the youngster has made an immediate impression on some of his team-mates in training.

‘He’s working incredibly hard every single day, learning our system and getting used to the way we play and English football. We’re all very happy with Jorrel,’ Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo said.

‘To be honest, I think his all-round game is top. The way I’ve seen him go forward in training is amazing.

‘The way he’s composed and the way he brings that aggression into his game is something that is great to see.’

Chelsea currently sit 19th in the league phase of Europe’s premier competition after accumulating three points from their opening two matches.

After taking on Ajax, the Club World Cup winners before quickly turning their attentions back to Premier League matters, with a tough match against high-flying Sunderland awaiting Maresca’s men this weekend.

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