WATFORD IS THE PROMISED LAND FOR DEULOFEU
THE journey from prodigy to consistent deliverer has been a long and winding one for Gerard Deulofeu but the Spaniard believes he has arrived at his destination with Watford. An FA Cup winners’ medal, eighth place in the Premier League and a personal best goal haul would confirm this season as the best of his career. Deulofeu has found himself in perpetual motion since coming through the
ranks from Barcelona B, racking up in excess of £25million in transfer fees and infuriating a string of coaches who drool at his skill and despair at his unpredictability. Watford manager Javi Gracia unleashed Deulofeu from the bench for the FA Cup semi-final and was rewarded with the most glorious of goals. On Saturday he started and scored twice. ‘I am really happy here and you can see it on the pitch,’ Deulofeu said. ‘I am 25 and this is my sixth or seventh year in the first division. ‘Every time I am travelling one way and another. ‘This season I am here playing regularly and that is the reason I am in that form. Every player wants to play every minute. I am feeling good and playing striker with free movements and a lot of space in the Premier League.’ Relegated Huddersfield scored a late consolation from Karlan Grant and were given a standing ovation by home fans. Midfielder Elias Kachunga said: ‘There are three games to go and we have to enjoy these games in the Premier League.’ Next up? A trip to Anfield. HUDDERSFIELD (4-3-3): Lossl 6; Smith 6, Schindler 7, Kongolo 7, Durm 6.5; Hogg 5.5 (Daly 41min, 6) Bacuna 5.5, Mooy 6.5; Kachunga 6, Mounie 6 (Grant 65, 6), Mbenza 6.5 (Lowe 81). Subs not used: Coleman, Pritchard, Stankovic, Hadergjonaj. Scorer: Grant 90. Booked: Hogg, Bacuna. Manager: Jan Siewert 7. WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster 7.5; Femenia 6, Cathcart 7, Mariappa 7, Masina 7; Hughes 7 (Navarro 90), Doucoure 7.5, Capoue 7.5, Sema 6.5; DEULOFEU 8 (Chalobah 80), Gray 6.5 (Success 72, 5). Subs not used: Gomes, Janmaat, Britos, Kabasele. Scorer: Deulofeu 5, 80. Booked: Doucoure, Capoue. Manager: Javi Gracia 7. Referee: Roger East 7. Attendance: 23,957.