SC Braga coach Carlos Carvahal is being credited for the superb first season of Lucas Piazon.
The former Chelsea midfielder, now 27, signed permanently for Braga and has been impressive for the Portuguese outfit this term.
On the books of Chelsea since 2012, Piazon managed one appearance with the Blues. Instead over the nine years he was at Chelsea, he spent time on-loan with seven different clubs. Chelsea had originally snapped up Piazon from Sao Paulo.
Jornal de Noticias' Nuno Barbosa told Foot Mercato: “Piazón's good performance at Braga is the result of a series of factors, starting with the coach who hosted him at the club, Carlos Carvalhal. It was also this coach who had brought him to Portugal the previous season, to Rio Ave, and who already knew him from having faced him in England, when Piazón was playing at Fulham, and he coached Sheffield Wednesday.
"Piazón has therefore practically had the same coach for two years, which had rarely happened to him in his career. Then there is another parameter, which is the stability that Braga offers to players."
Along with the influence of Carvahal, Barbosa also insists it is the culture and management approach of Braga which has helped Piazon to finally settle and begin fulfilling his potential.
He continued: "It is now one of the big players in Portugal and has a very professional structure, which makes life easier for players. We can also talk about the characteristics of the Portuguese league, very technical and tactical, unlike the Premier League, more physical."
With Braga this season, Piazon has managed 32 appearances, scoring seven goals from midfield and also producing six assists. Braga sit comfortably in fourth place on the Primeira Liga table, 11 points clear of fifth place Pacos Ferreira.
- updated April 19
