Gerard Deulofeu opens up on reasons behind Watford switch

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The Spaniard has returned to the Premier League to regain lost confidence after finding himself out of the team at Barcelona.

Watford’s January arrival Gerard Deulofeu has opened up on the reason he decided to return to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old Spain international had enjoyed a brilliant start to the season at Barca, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez after Neymar’s departure to PSG.

However, with Ousmane Dembele’s return to fitness and the arrival of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, the former Everton man’s game time became more and more limited, and the chance for increased minutes with Watford was an opportunity he simply could not turn down.

According to the Hertfordshire Mercury, Deulofeu said: “I have to play more minutes. I come here because I want to play more minutes, for my options for the national team.

“I’m a player who doesn’t want to stay on the bench or not be in the squad.

“I know I prefer being in top teams, but I want to be on the pitch and help the team and make the fans happy. That’s why I’ve come here.”

Deulofeu cited a loss of confidence as the main reason behind his move. The youngster must have taken some knock after doing so well to make it into Ernesto Valverde’s starting XI at the start of the season, only to be dropped to the bench when certain players returned to fitness.

“When I came to Barcelona, I know about that situation. I came knowing Neymar was in the team. After Neymar has gone comes Dembele and Coutinho,” the Spaniard added, “If you want to be in the top teams, you know you have good competition for your place.

“I played a lot of games, and the last month, last two months, I play nothing, I don’t have confidence to play in this team, so my solution is to come here, to take confidence.”

Not focused on the future beyond the end of the season, the Barcelona loanee is ready to get stuck back into the Premier League and help Watford build on their current mid-table position.

A win tonight against Chelsea would bring them within one point of 10th-placed Everton, who suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Saturday.

“I’m confident in Watford, I’m confident in myself to help my team, so I want to take the first win as soon as I can,” Deulofeu added.