HIS TASTY CHIP IN THE SEMI-FINAL

session almost a decade ago. To this day, he has not tired of watching Guardiola’s teams.

‘As a fan I like how Manchester City play,’ he said.

‘It’s really beautiful to watch and see how they control a game.

‘Pep was a coach who explained things to me when I was really young when I came sometimes to train with the first team. It was very special.

‘I stayed one year with the first team and that wasn’t enough but it was so good for me.

‘When I was in that period, Guardiola was the man. Now all his teams play the same football, the same style.

‘He is doing really good things and if you play for him and learn from him then you must know that you are really lucky.

‘It’s not just that he controls games with his tiki-taka style. There is more to it than that.

‘Inside the office, for example, he is really aggressive. He knows how to control his players.

‘Every player will improve their qualities with Pep.’

At Wembley today Watford will have much of the nation’s support. City are seeking a domestic treble and Watford are the underdogs.

Fortunately for Gracia, he has players who will not be daunted and Deulofeu is in that group.

The Spaniard understands what the FA Cup means and what it would mean to win it. It is a start.

‘City have really good players but have some things that we can exploit,’ he laughed. ‘I know what they are, but I don’t want to tell you.

‘I am really proud of the season and we have a chance to win a title and get into Europe.

‘Now we know it’s going to be really tough against one of the biggest teams in Europe but we are there and we are going to battle, of course.

‘I feel good with this kind of game. The final of the FA Cup will be one of the best games of my career.

‘Things can happen in football, just like they did against Wolves, and I like the difficult things against top teams.

‘We have got one chance and we will fight for that. To win would be amazing.’

As 10-minute interviews go — just over 11 in the end — this was not the worst. Deulofeu has a story and opinions and a little charm, even if he chooses to spread it all a little thin.

As for what really lies beneath, maybe we will know more in 10 years or so.

He will be one to watch at Wembley today but we would be unwise to guess the next step.

Previously he has said he has his eyes on a bigger club but on this occasion he declined to say that when given the opportunity. Maybe he is learning, after all.

What is known is that Deulofeu has never stayed at any club longer than 18 months — and we can confirm that he is not a man to sit still for long.