"I hope he can improve by the end of the season - that is the challenge I have put to him, because if he plays all the time for Braga, next season he will be ready to play for a team like Braga or better."
Those were the words of Carlos Carvalhal in January as he challenged rampaging Braga right-back Yan Couto to take his game to the next level.
And the 19-year-old has answered in kind.
The Manchester City loanee's stunning strike in the 2-1 win over Portimonese was the latest indication he's trending in the right direction.
Couto - who excels at right wing back - is primed and ready to excel against Rangers in their mouthwatering Europa League quarter final.
But it won't be the jet-heeled Brazilian's first trip to Glasgow.
He was invited to take in Celtic's 3-0 thumping over Jablonec back in August as Ange Postecoglou 's side flashed the first signs they would be a team to be reckoned with this season.
This visit to Parkhead came amid Celtic's 'operation find a right back' - a search that linked Sacha Boey, Aurelio Buta, George Baldock and Brandon Soppy with Postecoglou's side.
The Premiership title challengers kept their nerve and there wouldn't be one supporter who would swap Josip Juranovic with any of the other names linked.
Mailsport revealed in August that Couto was keen on joining on a season long-loan from Manchester City but he eventually plumped for Braga.
And it's working out for Couto as well as he sees his star rise with Braga, making 30 appearances have helped take his game to the next level.
His burgeoning form is set to lead to a key role against Rangers. It's set to be a fascinating tactical battle with Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst proving capable of matching up in a 3-5-2 to cause their opponents something to ponder.
Couto's stint with Braga is proving beneficial for both.
Carvalhal is able to get the best out of a player who appears primed for a career at the very top, while the Brazilian can sharpen his game to prove a viable option for Pep Guardiola long-term.
And the former Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday boss believes that is a realistic aim for a player he has challenged to marry defensive sensibilities with natural attacking swagger.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Carvalhal said: “He is better offensively than defensively, and we are trying to improve the defensive part of his game, and in the transitions also.
“He is doing better. When he arrived, we changed him regularly as he was adapting to the team but recently he has been playing all the time. We are happy with him, but we think he can do better.
“On the offensive side, he is a very good player. He can make the difference in our attacking dynamic, but he has to improve to be a player at the Manchester City level.
“Pep Guardiola likes good players, and Yan has a good relationship with the ball.
“I told him that to play for City he has to be very good in the offensive organisation, and he is good. But he must also be good at defensive organisation, and he must improve that.
“He is good at offensive transition, but also needs to improve defensive transition to play at that level. This is the challenge, defensive organisation and defensive transition - he needs to be stronger at these to play at the best level.
“If you ask me if he can do that in the future, I think so, but he needs more time in my opinion - or if, by the end of the season he has improved by that 30 per cent, we have a complete player.
“Right now he is a good player who has things to improve to play at a high level."
Couto's last trip to Glasgow proved fleeting, however, Rangers and their coaching staff will be acutely aware the Braga star make a sizeable impact upon his return.
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