Wallace Oliveira due to start for Gremio after 3 months on the bench
Gremio manager has today confirmed that Chelsea right back Wallace Oliveira will get his first game in over 3 months!
On 7 January, Wallace moved to Brazil Série A side Gremio on loan until June 2017. After joining Chelsea, he was taken to pre-season in Asia with Jose Mourinho as manager and performed well. Winning a penalty for Chelsea and showing attacking intent.
He was adviced to go on loan to Vitesse, as Chelsea were unable to get a visa for him in England, but he opted to join Italian giants Inter Milan. The years loan was a failure and he was then loaned out to Vitesse, where his performance was mixed. Defensively, he needed work. That's why Vitesse started to use him as a right winger towards the end of the season.
The following season he spent the first half of it with Italian Serie A side Carpi, but then returned to his homeland with Gremio.
"With Wallace I get defensive strength and the habit of side function. He lives a moment of great dedication, waiting patiently for the time to play. It is the right time to put him in the field and I wish him luck in this game," said Gremio manager.
Wallace will start on Thursday vs Santa Cruz. It will be the first time he's stepped on the field since 21st April, so it will be a chance to show his mental strength and to impress in the absence of first choice right back Edílson. Who picked up a straight red last game.
"His continuity was stopped due to the problems he had: Two ankle twists, returning from abroad. He also had muscle injury problems that interrupted their process. Now, Wallace is able to have continuity and performance we expect when he arrived here."
[Thanks to @MbChels for the translation]
