Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
The optimism around Chelsea evaporated somewhat on Saturday as Hull City came to Stamford Bridge and arguably should have taken all three points. Carlton Cole is worried about one player.
While Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro’s goals were the first Hull have conceded all season, the Tigers came back superbly. Mohamed Belloumi scored a quick-fire brace in the first half of the 2-2 draw.
It is more evidence that Chelsea are superb in attack, but poor in defence. Carlton Cole is worried about one player in particular, though, suggesting his Chelsea teammates did not want to pass the ball to him.
Chelsea FC v Hull City - Premier League 2026/27
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Cole doesn’t think Chelsea players wanted to pass to Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato finished last season in fine form. After a difficult start following his move from Ajax, he was moved to centre-back by Liam Rosenior; it worked. The Netherlands star was called up for the World Cup.
But on Saturday, he was a disaster. It was his mistake that saw Belloumi score the first of Hull’s two goals, even if Malo Gusto had ignored Xabi Alonso’s advice. Paul Merson described Hato’s mistake as “terrible”.
Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, Cole thinks Chelsea’s players didn’t even want to pass to the left-back, specifically Levi Colwill: “I don’t like to call out individuals, and I hope it helps them. Hato.
“Come on bro; get closer to your man. You got to know where the ball is; get on the half turn so you know where the ball will land. There are things to do. Prepare to defend. It was a long day for him.
Pep Chavarria's stats vs Crystal Palace
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“Didn’t look confident; Colwill had it a few times and didn’t pass to him. You know when someone is struggling, they don’t want to pass to them; they feel he’d lose the ball. They didn’t want to pass to him.”
Jorrel Hato or Pep Chavarria? Xabi Alonso has a big call to make
Hato was hooked at half-time against Hull in favour of Pep Chavarria, the player Alonso pushed Chelsea to sign throughout the summer. The former Rayo Vallecano man has looked good when used by Alonso.
Pep Chavarria of Chelsea
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Against Leeds, Chavarria was one of Chelsea’s better players. On Friday night, when Chelsea travel the short distance to Brentford, Alonso has a big decision to make at left-back, or even left wing-back.
Surely, Chavarria will be given a chance on Friday night. It feels like it is the right time, with Hato’s confidence likely to have dipped. Whether Alonso makes the change remains to be seen on Friday.