Gabriel Pec – Vasco Da Gama’s connective attacking force

Gabriel Fortes Chaves, better known as Gabriel Pec has been one of Vasco da Gama’s standout players for the last year as this season, his game has become more well-rounded as he has added more intelligence and efficiency to his game. He was given the name Pec as he is from Petropolis, a city in the north of Brazil with only 300,000 inhabitants as the 21-year-old began his career playing Futsal and was originally spotted for Vasco during a Futsal game. He never played for the Petropolis Esporte Clube as they were a professional team but when he arrived at Vasco at the age of 8, one of his youth coordinators would talk about the team so as the city of Petropolis would consistently follow him, he decided that he would etch his city on his back.

Petropolis has produced Fabio and Rafael Da Silva who reached the lofty heights of Manchester United via Fluminense as players from the area rarely veer far from their roots. Gabriel Pec is known to frequently return to his hometown to visit his family while when there was an environmental catastrophe in the area last year which took the lives of over 200 people, the greatest tragedy in the history of the city, the Vasco attacker made an effort to speak about the situation in the media despite the fact that none of his family were harmed in the event. When he joined Vasco, Gabriel Pec was consistently smaller than his teammates in his age-group, but his close control and technique made him a favourite of youth coaches as he really began to bloom at U15 and U16 level where he would begin to play at a higher age-group, playing with the U20s when he was 17 before Vanderlei Luxemburgo would invite him to train with the first team.

Gabriel Pec can play on both flanks while also having the ability to operate in the central spaces as his first touch is impeccable. He is not necessarily the most proficient dribbler, but he evades markers by moving into space to receive possession, working quick one-twos and making darts to receive possession in space as this allows to move into space for crossing and shooting situations while also be a conduit in the build-up phase. He frequently moves into the half-space to drop deep and receive possession from defenders, work connections and move into space to lead counter-attacking moves. This season has been a season of sharp growth for Gabriel Pec as he is occupying more spaces within the front line, making more intelligent runs which have seen him create higher quality opportunities and take higher quality shots from in and around the opposition box.

Last season, at home to Sampaio Correa, Gabriel Pec would make an interception before driving the ball forward to skip past an opposition defender before he was impeded to win a free-kick for his team. The 21-year-old has an aptitude for defensive work as he will push forward to regain possession in the pressing phase, participate in the defensive phase to cover his fullback while he can also intelligently recognize pressing triggers. He is a two-way player because he can regain possession in the defensive phase before weaving past gluts of defenders to start counter-attacking moves while he also loves to cut into the centre of the pitch. When German Cano dropped deep, the 21-year-old attacker would also make intelligent runs off the ball as he would nearly notch an assist, lofting a fantastic cross from a corner into the box for a teammate to have a header cleared off the line. He then received possession from Matias Galarza, keeping the ball to evade a marker as he curled a cross into the box, but nobody was on hand to receive the delivery.

He then received possession from a switch ball to gently touch a pass to Galarza who was making a run into the half-space for the Paraguayan to have a shot blocked. Defensively, he would regain possession while covering for his fullback once more as he consistently pushed into the wide areas to close down crosses as when his fullback would move out of position to do the same, he would occupy the vacated area and cover for his fullback. He finished the game with 2 accurate crosses, 4/6 dribbles, 4 interceptions and 9 ball recoveries. At home to Gremio Esportivo Brasil, he was positioned in the half-space with his fullback overlapping as he struggled to cut inside, losing possession twice. This is one of the intriguing facets of his game as he is more a 1v1 dribbler rather than a high-volume dribbler, preferring to work connections and move into space or to be in positions where he only has to evade one marker before being able to shoot or cross.

He had a moment of genius when he received possession in the wide areas, holding possession to turn and play the ball back for a cross into the box from the opposite flank where the 21-year-old moved into space within the opposition box to fire a strike straight at the goalkeeper. This proved to be a foreshadowing moment in Gabriel Pec’s game as his ability to move into space in and around the box for high quality shooting opportunities has become a massive facet of his game. Gabriel Pec received possession on the left flank to drive at his defender, cut inside and spread the ball to the opposite flank as when he is playing on the right flank, he is very good at cutting inside onto his left foot. He began taking up positions in the nine-space and ten space, looking to dribble in the centre when he received possession in order to work connections. He also seemed very uncomfortable when he was isolated against his fullback or had to dribble past two defenders as he would consistently turn and look for the back-pass.

At home to Guarani, he would lob a left-footed corner into the box for a teammate to hammer a shot over the bar as Gabriel Pec can also create opportunities from set-pieces. The 21-year-old tucked into the centre from the right flank to receive possession in the ten space to poke a pass to the nine-space and continue his run to receive possession inside the box as his opportunity was blocked before he could shoot. He received possession on the right flank during a counter, prodding the ball forward on his right foot as he approached his marker before switching the ball to his left foot to cut inside and play a well-weighted cut-back to a teammate at the top of the box who mis controlled as he created a high-quality shooting opportunity for a teammate. The 21-year-old repeated the trick at home to Ponte Preta, receiving possession on the right to cut inside and angle a penetrative pass to a striker at the top of the box who mis controlled.

The 21-year-old utilized his 1v1 dribbling and connection play to create a shooting opportunity for himself, receiving a switch ball on the right flank, engaging his fullback to cut inside and work a one-two with a teammate before firing a strike at goal from the top of the box. After a turnover in the opposition half, he received possession to drive the ball forward and loft a chipped pass into the box for a teammate to have a shooting opportunity. At home to Remo, he received possession on the right flank with two markers behind him, spinning past one marker to attract another defender to his position to hold possession, using his body to shield possession before cutting inside to work a pass into the ten space and continue his run into the centre as the striker dropped out of the nine-space, showing his intelligence in movement and the occupation of space. He moved from the right half-space to the left half-space where a teammate could have played a through ball to him but had a shot blocked as this particular movement has become a staple of his game, showing how he currently creates high quality crossing and shooting opportunities for himself from inside the box.

He then proved his ability as a ball-carrier regaining possession from an opposition corner in his own box, driving the ball forward chipping a pass over a sliding tackle to drive into the opposition half before evading another two sliding tackles, using his body to shield the ball, having possession on the right flank in the final third as he eventually lost possession. When Gabriel Pec can utilize his dribbling and combination play in the same sequences, his game really comes to life as the 21-year-old received possession on the left flank, driving the ball into the centre and threading the ball past two players into the attacking line before he received possession again, skipping past a man to hold possession, turn and drive the ball towards the left flank where he worked another one-two with an attacker to receive the ball in the box for another cut-back opportunity but he did not cross and played a back-pass.

His more recent performances in the past few months have been indicative of better movement, higher quality runs while receiving possession in higher quality positions to show better decision-making. In the Rio De Janeiro State Championship away to Volta Redonda, possession was held on the right flank for Gabriel Pec to tuck into the nine-space from the right flank, he would move towards the right half-space to receive possession, drive into the box before turning back and playing the ball to his fullback who drove to the by-line while Gabriel Pec held his position in the half-space to receive possession in space as the fullback drew markers to allow the ball to roll across his body and fire a strike with his left foot across the goalkeeper into the left side of the net. Gabriel Pec received possession from a long goal-kick in the right half-space, holding possession and playing the ball to the flank before making a run towards the right touchline, when the ball moved to the centre, he tucked inside, allowing his fullback to occupy the wide zone. Gabriel Pec received possession to control the ball and thread a pass for a teammate making a run into the channels as he made a looping run into the nine-space to receive a cross that was blocked.

Gabriel Pec illustrated his ability as a ball-carrier once more, receiving possession and cutting past a man to drive the ball forward on the flank as he cut inside but lacked any direct passing options while the centre was congested with opposition defenders to turn towards the outside and spread a pass to the flank. The 21-year-old received possession on the right flank during another counter-attack, prodding the ball forward with his left foot before he stood his fullback up and skipped past him with a step over, driving to the by-line before he cut-back a cross for Nene to apply the finish. After a turnover, Gabriel Pec moved into the half-space, swivelling to shield possession before spreading the ball to the flank before he received possession once more, playing a delicate through ball for a teammate to receive possession on the flank as the 21-year-old attacker made a run towards the top of the box where a cut-back to him was blocked. He showed his aptitude for defensive work when he chased down an opposition winger, tracking him as he made a run into the box to regain possession and win a free-kick in his own box.

At home to Ponte Preta, he illustrated his intelligence for movement to create high quality shooting opportunities for himself as he started a move in the right half-space as once a lobbed pass was made to an overlapping player on the right flank, he made a looping run to the top of the box before positioning himself at the near post to receive a low cross and have a shot blocked by a teammate from inside the box. He then regained possession in the pressing phase, pushing forward to the right flank as a ball was played past him as he chased back to regain possession in the opposition half for his team. He made another interception when he intercepted a pass from a throw-in before he utilized his penchant for intelligent movement once more, tucking in to the nine-space from the right flank before dropping into ten space and making a looping run around a defender to the half-space to receive a through ball in the box but the pass was astray.

At home to Brusque, Gabriel Pec was deployed on the left flank, receiving possession and lofting a cross into the box that landed on the forehead of a teammate who flicked on for another attacker to open the scoring. The 21-year-old would be involved in the creation of another high quality opportunity when he received a lobbed pass on the left flank, making a clever run in behind to evade his marker and receive possession as another defender closed him down, he drove to the by-line before turning back to play a back-pass as he received possession once more in the half-space, flicking a pass onto the flank for a cross into the box that led to an opportunity being saved. He used his combination play to create another opportunity, making a looping run into the left half-space as he received a deep vertical pass to flick-on for a teammate to send a shot wide of the far post. His movement would allow him to create a shooting opportunity of his own, making a run on the left flank as he held his run to receive possession as he was moving into the box to take a touch and have a shot saved.

As specified before, sequences where Gabriel Pec can utilize his ball-carrying, dribbling and combination play are where he can make the game come to life. He would be in the defensive phase, covering for his fullback when he received possession after a block to work a pass to a teammate then make a run into the wide zone, receiving possession in the opposition half where he drove into the opposition box as two defenders closed him down for the 21-year-old to drive the ball towards the by-line before making an elegant flick to evade the two defenders as he attempted a cut-back for a striker running into the nine-space which was blocked. He would utilize his ball-carrying and combination play to create another high-quality shooting situation as he received possession in his own half, driving the ball forward, cutting past a defender to spread a pass to the right flank as he made a run into the box to receive possession once more, holding possession and spreading the ball to the flank once more for a cross into the box. He regained possession in the pressing phase once more when he pushed forward to close down the left back as the ball was played past him for the Brazilian attacker to chase back to regain possession.

Gabriel Pec’s movement and ability to create high quality shooting opportunities for himself and teammates reflects in his underlying metrics as he has an expected goals number of 2.06, sitting in the top 20 players in the Brasiliero Serie A, as he has scored 1 goal. He is also in the top 20 for expected assists with a number of 1.31 with 0 assists. He is in the top 10 in touches in the opposition penalty area for Serie B players as he is also in the top 20 in dribbling. The 21-year-old ranks in the top 25 in progressive runs while he is also in the top 10 in deep completions according to WyScout ranking data.

Gabriel Pec has long been a highly touted young attacker, but his game has recently been on an upward trajectory as he has begun to develop and become more well-rounded as an attacker. The 21-year-old can play on both flanks, in an attacking central midfield role while he also has the possibility to be deployed as a second-striker as more stability could be the reason for his uptick in form as he played under three vastly different managers last year. His movement into space and the runs he is capable of making in the half-spaces and central spaces will make him a key creator of low crossing cut-back opportunities while he also has the ability to finish low cut-back opportunities with his movement in the attacking line as these are the most efficient sequences for creating high quality opportunities. He regularly manages to get into high quality goalscoring situations as he has a future as a goal scorer. His combination play in the final third is also excellent as this is another way of creating goalscoring opportunities for himself and teammates, working connections to move into central spaces and apply the finishing touches to moves or to create opportunities for teammates.

His combination play, and ball-carrying also make him a key build-up conduit with his ability to move into the half-space, work connections and play penetrative passes while he can also make runs into space and carry possession over long distances. When he can combine these two facets of his game, attracting markers with 1v1 dribbling while a teammate moves into space to receive the ball, allowing the 21-year-old to release the ball before moving into space to receive possession again, Gabriel Pec can become a nightmare for defenders. He is also a player that can be effective in modern-day football as he is a relentless defender out of possession, pushing up to apply pressure to force defenders into errant passes while if he is beaten, he regularly chases into the second line of pressure to regain possession. In the defensive phase, he consistently covers for his fullback and will make block and tackles while once he receives possession after a turnover, he has the ability to string together attacks with his ball-carrying and combination play.

Vasco da Gama have intelligently extended Gabriel Pec’s contract till 2025 while he could become a cheap option for teams due to his team being in the Brasiliero Serie B and low prices in the market as well as his team’s financial issues. If Real Valladolid are unable to re-sign Gonzalo Plata, Gabriel Pec would be a like-for-like replacement for the Ecuadorian. Serie A teams like Lazio, Sassuolo and AC Milan would also prove to be good landing spots for the Brazilian as would Marseille, Brest, Lille, Lyon, Rennes, Reims, Brest and Toulouse in Ligue 1. Stuttgart would in the Bundesliga would be a good landing spot for the 21-year-old as he would be a wonderful replacement for Nicolas Gonzalez. SC Braga would also be a good landing spot as would Real Sociedad and Real Betis in Spain. In Brazil, it would be intriguing to see Gabriel Pec replace Artur at Red Bull Bragantino as he would suit Mauricio Barbieri’s style of play as the team have been willing to spend heavily on young talent in the South American market. Gabriel Pec is an intelligent young player on the rise who certainly has a bright future ahead of him.