Jorrel Hato reveals Chelsea's new 'special one' and responds to Enzo Maresca claim

Blues defender addresses manager’s honest assessment over his early ‘struggles’ at Stamford Bridge

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea , featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice .

Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato has opened up on how he has adapted to life in English football - and believes Estevao Willian is a “special one”.

Hato was signed from Ajax for an initial £37.5million fee in the summer, and the 19-year-old played 90 minutes against his former club on Wednesday night as Chelsea won 5-1 in the Champions League.

He praised the young talent within the Blues’ squad, after they became the first team in the competition’s history to have three teenagers score in a single game .

Estevao (18), Marc Guiu (19) and Tyrique George (19) all found the net at Stamford Bridge, along with Chelsea’s midfield stars Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Enzo Maresca was asked on Tuesday how he felt Hato had taken to life in English football . The Chelsea boss admitted he had “struggled initially” with the Premier League’s physicality, but is “getting better and better” now.

Speaking to reporters after the win over Ajax , Hato said: “I have the same feeling. It's not easy if you go from the Dutch league to the Premier League . It's such a big difference, and I knew that.

“I was maybe struggling a bit in the beginning, but I think every day it's better and better.”

Special one: Estevao Willian looks to have a huge future at Chelsea

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

He said of the way Chelsea beat 10-man Ajax : “A 5-1 win in the Champions League is a big win. I think we had a good game from the start.

“The game changed with the red card from Ajax , but our level didn't drop, so we kept playing and created chances.”

Maresca named the youngest starting lineup of any team in the Champions League so far this season as Chelsea brushed Ajax aside with ease.

“We have a young group. I'm 19 but I'm not even the youngest, so that says a lot,” Hato said.

“We have such a lot of young players with a lot of quality, and I think those young players are really hungry and ready for games like this.

“It's crazy, but yeah, Marc and Estevao are both players with a lot of quality, so for me it's not a shock.

“We have young players, but Reece [James] for example is a player who was here for a long time, who has a lot of experience. Players like Tosin [Adarabioyo], Cucu [Marc Cucurella], who are already older, they have experience as well, so it's not really different.

“No, the group is only younger, but with a lot of quality, so that doesn't matter.”

Chelsea’s fourth goal against Ajax was notched by Estevao , who became their youngest-ever scorer in the Champions League , netting his second for the club following a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Liverpool before the international break.

“He's such a good player, great technically,” Hato said of Estevao. “He has a good left foot, a really good left foot. You see how he scores the penalty, I think he's a special one.”