Chelsea’s official X account shared a 69-second interview with Jorrel Hato following his memorable first goal for the club during the 5-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Charlton Athletic. The win secured Chelsea’s place in the fourth round and marked an encouraging early moment in Liam Rosenior’s tenure, as detailed by SoftFootball.
For Hato, the night carried personal significance as he opened his Chelsea account in unexpected fashion. The 19-year-old defender, signed from Ajax for €46.5 million in August 2025, found the net with a deflected long-range strike while operating in an advanced role.
His performance came just days after Rosenior officially began work with the squad, a transition SoftFootball highlighted when reporting on the coach’s positive start to life at Stamford Bridge. Despite being deployed primarily as a left back, Hato frequently drifted into central attacking areas, showing the tactical flexibility Chelsea are beginning to encourage.
Speaking about the goal itself, Hato admitted the finish caught him off guard. He explained that the lack of celebration reflected his own disbelief at seeing the ball fly in.
He said:
Yeah, I was a little bit surprised as well when it went in. I think that’s why I didn’t really celebrate. But yeah, I was very happy, I was very happy. I think it bounced and hit the top corner, so I’m very happy.
Hato also opened up on adapting to a more advanced role, something he first encountered under former head coach Enzo Maresca. Moving from a traditional defensive full-back position at Ajax to stepping into number 10 spaces has required adjustment, but he sees it as part of his development.
He said:
At the beginning, of course, it was different for me because at Ajax I only played as a defensive full-back. With Maresca, I played in this position as well, but I think I’m still learning how really to play the position. I think it’s getting better and better every day.
Watch the video below:
On Rosenior’s early influence, Hato revealed that clarity has been the priority despite limited time together. He highlighted the importance of communication and structure in helping players understand expectations.
Yeah, we did a lot of meetings for him, because he really wanted to show us the way he plays and what he asks from us. Of course, it’s a really short time—two days—but I think it was a good response from us in these two days to win here.
For Chelsea supporters, Hato’s composed reflections offered another sign of a young player settling quickly into a new chapter, both personally and collectively.
