Football
Adriana Garcia 6y

Barcelona's Gerard Deulofeu perfect for Premier League - Watford boss

Watford coach Javi Gracia has praised the immediate impact Gerard Deulofeu has had following his recent move from Barcelona and called him a great fit for the Premier League.

The Spanish forward, who joined Watford last month on loan until the end of the season, stood out in the 4-1 home triumph over Chelsea on Monday.

Deulofeu earned a penalty that led to his team's opening goal and then scored Watford's third goal, his first since his arrival at Vicarage Road.

"I'm thrilled with the arrival of Gerard," Gracia told Onda Cero radio. "More than what I know he can give us, I believe he fits in perfectly with the style of the Premier League. I think he is going to have a great season."

Barca paid €12 million to re-sign Deulofeu from Everton last summer, having been impressed by his performances while on loan at AC Milan.

However, the 23-year-old failed to shine back at the Camp Nou, where he scored two goals in 17 appearances in all competitions but played just nine minutes since the beginning of December.

Gracia is convinced Deulofeu will continue to have a starring role at Watford.

"I always thought that there were few players of his quality in his generation and I believe that to be the case more so now that he is my player," Gracia said. "My hope is that he will help us as much as he can. It's true that a good player can play in any league, but you need certain qualities for the Premier League as it's more physical.

"In those minutes when the game opens up, that physical power takes over and players who have that strength impose themselves. We saw that against Chelsea where Gerard's runs and counter-attacks proved crucial for the final result."

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