Player Focus: Piazón Benefitting from Eredivisie Education

Even in such a short space of time Piazón has shown to possess the innate ability to read the game. No one at the club averages more key passes (3 per game). Piazón’s five goals have come from 16 shots (31.3% conversion). Each one – well taken it must be added – as mentioned above, has been important. “Enjoyable,” was Bosz’s summation after Piazón’s performance against Heerenveen.

The feeling is there’s more to come from Vitesse – who have threatened to break the glass ceiling since Jordania’s takeover – after ten games they’re currently six, albeit two points behind the leader, however they will have to do it without club icon Theo Janssen. In their home defeat to Feyenoord before the latest international break, which only highlights their inconsistency (in fairness the same can be said for every Eredivisie club), Janssen suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Janssen, who came through Vitesse’s academy and made his professional in 1998, returned to the club in 2012 after spending four years away at FC Twente and Ajax. He would win the championship at both in 2009-10 and 2011-12 respectively. His importance cannot be understated not only as a leader and talisman – through the wealth of experience he brings – but as a team player.

“There is no replacement for Janssen,” Bosz said. Janssen lead the way in terms of assists for his club (5) and before his injury the controlling midfielder averaged 46.4 passes per game – only bettered by central defensive duo Guram Kashia (74.3) and Jan-Arie van der Heijden (73.1). When it comes to average passing Piazón is ranked ninth. He is, however, second in terms of dribbling (1.9 per game) – more his forte.

The desire to learn is there. There’s a reason why Chelsea invested £6.5 million in early 2011 after extensively scouting him for two years. He has the capability of making the difference on a regular basis. The man credited with bringing him to Stamford Bridge was Abramovich’s personal adviser, and club scout, Piet de Visser, who is no stranger to the Brazilian market from his time with PSV. On his advice the club signed Romário, Ronaldo, Alex and Heurelho Gomes amongst others. He would describe Piazón to Abramovich as “a very promising player”.

In the present, one thing’s for sure; he couldn’t be in a better place. “It’s a good league,” Piazón says. “Every team tries to play football, build up play and pass the ball. There’s no kick and rush.” Piazón, who has shown maturity beyond his years, knows the rich tradition in the Netherlands when it comes to developing footballers, to which compatriots Ronaldo and Romário can attest.

Naturally, as you’d expect, Piazón is also playing for a future at Chelsea. “We know if we don’t have a good season we will be back out on loan again.” It’s an unenviable challenge given the plethora of similar players at José Mourinho’s disposal. Piazón has to continue to show the ‘special one’ that he is indeed special.