The time is now to deliver for Chelsea’s Lucas Piazon

Chelsea have a staggering 33 players out on loan so far this season to a myriad of clubs around Europe. All of these guys have been bought by the West London club in the hope that they meet their tremendous potential and ultimately return to fight for their place in a title chasing Premier League […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-09-08 15:45:00

Chelsea have a staggering 33 players out on loan so far this season to a myriad of clubs around Europe. All of these guys have been bought by the West London club in the hope that they meet their tremendous potential and ultimately return to fight for their place in a title chasing Premier League side. The likes of Christian Atsu, on loan at Bournemouth, Nathaniel Chalobah who just made a switch to Italian side Napoli or even newest recruit 23 year-old Michael Hector may never see the day they become first team regulars for the current Premier League champions.

You could say a big part of the reason that many do not don the colours of Chelsea or many other ‘big club’ chasing for honours on a regular basis is the competitiveness in the English top flight. This combined with trying to challenge in European competition intensifies the need for success. It can often be an over-whelming and sometimes an unshakeable burden for clubs, which in turn forces them to spend money to meet the immediate plans of the club and to appease the fans.

Rewind twelve months and two young Chelsea players took the unchartered steps to Germany to try and make an impact in the fast-growing, vastly popular Bundesliga but had contrasting fortunes for much of the season.  

The first player in question is Thorgan Hazard, the ‘Malcolm in the middle’ of the three Hazard brothers of whom are in professional football – they also have an 11 brother called Ethan, he joined the sleeping giants of Borussia Mochengladbach on loan at the start of the 2014/15 season. 

Although only notching one goal last campaign, he often featured in ‘Gladbach’s Europa League journey and impressed sufficiently to earn himself a five year deal at the club. However, talking about the deal he admitted there will be a buy-back clause inserted as he stated; “I am focusing on excelling at Borussia Monchengladbach, but I still hope to play for Chelsea one day.”

This is common regurgitated quote you see from the deluge of Chelsea loanees as they embark on their next spell away from Stamford Bridge. In as much as you admire the ambition and bullishness of these players, surely Hazard is the real winner here especially if you compare to Lucas Piazon. The Brazilian is still on Chelsea’s books despite only making three first team appearances.

The 21 year old joined Eintracht Frankfurt at the same time that Hazard found himself in North Rhine-Westphalia but didn’t adjust to the style of play as quickly as he would have hoped. 

‘In Germany it was much harder, a different style of training and the team was completely different. The league was stronger and I had to fight very much. It took me two or three months to get used to the league and after that I was more involved in the team. I found the second part of the season easier.’
 
Despite his slow start he did score two winning goals for his new team including an 88th minute free-kick to secure victory over Hamburg and also a towering header against Schalke to win 1-0. Many were calling for Piazon to perhaps stay in Germany to continue his development after seeing signs that the Sao Paulo born man had showed signs of adaptation. 

Nonetheless, Piazon returned to Chelsea this summer but still saw his root to the first team blurred by a plethora of players including compatriots Willian, Oscar and Ramires and new signing Pedro from Barcelona.  

His move to Reading on a season long loan under the tutelage of ex-Chelsea assistant Steve Clarke could prove the perfect tonic to build a platform for future success. He has admitted his frustration at not making a breakthrough up until now but recognises this being his first full season in England playing regularly that this is his time. “It doesn’t matter that it’s in the Championship because it is a strong league. It is a difficult league with many games and I can improve myself.

‘I feel fit and I feel strong. I’ve been training for two months and Reading have a good team. We can have a successful season.’

It will be worth keeping track of this silky Brazilian who will have high hopes for this season. He will also want to build on his five caps for Brazil’s U23’s and make a name for himself both in England and back in his homeland. 

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by
sambafoot_admin
Sep 08, 2015