Jorrel Hato started Chelsea’s first four games of the season at left wing-back, with Xabi Alonso seemingly placing his trust in the young Dutch defender.
However, after being replaced at half-time against Hull City following a costly mistake, Hato’s position in the starting XI appears to have changed, with a place on the bench now looking more likely.
His place in Chelsea’s first team had already been under threat, with Marc Cucurella established as the main option last season, while the arrivals of Pep Chavarría and Marco Palestra this summer have added further competition for places.
The international break did little to ease that pressure. Rather than returning with valuable minutes and renewed confidence, Hato comes back from Netherlands duty having barely featured, with a rival club’s central defender preferred ahead of him.
Micky van de Ven started all four games for Xavi Hernández’s Netherlands, filling in at left-back, while Hato was unable to force his way ahead of the other options in the centre-back positions. For a young defender already fighting for his place at Chelsea, the lack of opportunities with the national team only adds to the concern.
This break mattered more than a typical international window. A player fighting for his place at club level needs momentum, and international football offers one of the few opportunities to build that away from the pressure of Premier League selection. Hato had the chance to return to Cobham with minutes under his belt and a strong performance to point to. Instead, he comes back without either.
It also adds another layer to his situation at Chelsea. Chavarria being preferred ahead of him suggests the Netherlands coaching staff do not currently see Hato as an automatic choice, which is hardly ideal for a player Xabi Alonso is still considering for a regular role.
Club and country selections are separate, but Alonso will inevitably take notice when a defender struggling for minutes at Chelsea is also finding himself on the fringes internationally. It could leave Hato with even more ground to make up when the next big selection decision arrives.
None of this means Hato’s Chelsea career is in trouble, far from it. He is still young, his quality is not in question the majority of times, and one quiet international break should not define his season.
However, Chelsea’s defence has already come under plenty of scrutiny this season, meaning every selection decision is magnified. For players not playing regularly, it becomes even harder to make a case for themselves when those decisions are being made.
The next few weeks could be important for Hato. If he gets his chance and delivers, this international break will quickly become a footnote. If his minutes remain limited, questions over where he fits into Alonso’s plans will only grow. Right now, Hato needs a strong run of performances for club or country far more than he needs another debate about his place in the squad.
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