Deulofeu inspires nine-man Milan to victory

Wednesday, 8 February, 2017 25comments | Jump to most recent

Gerard Deulofeu pulled out some familiar magic on the byline and set up Mario Pašalić to score a late winner for AC Milan over Bologna this evening.

The Spanish winger, on loan from Everton until the end of the season, responded to coach Vincenzo Montella's challenge to produce more on the pitch by weighing in with the crucial assist in a 1-0 win.

That was after Gabriel Paletta and Juraj Kucka had been sent off, leaving Milan to try and salvage a point with a two-man disadvantage. They went one better, however, with Deulofeu admitting that he had never seen a game like it.

“[It was] an incredible night," told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium. "These are three points of astonishing importance and we are very happy.”

“These three points feel like they are worth six. In fact, let's say they are worth 10! I've never seen a game like this, with nine against 11.

“I ran to the by-line and I saw Pasalic there. I don't do easy things, I try to do the difficult things and when I saw him there, I had to try.

“Day by day, game by game, this Milan of young players with this hunger and character can go far.”

Reader Comments (25)

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Eugene Ruane
1 Posted 08/02/2017 at 22:25:39

Looks like Geri did well tonight - Link

Gavin Johnson
2 Posted 08/02/2017 at 00:03:21

I don't know why we let him go. True, he was inconsistent but he did have spells like last season where he did well after a run of games. He certainly doesn't fit into the category of deadwood like the other players we let go.

It seems Koeman and Walsh put a lot of onus on play off the ball so that's going to count against Deulofeu. He's not the fittest and he definitely not a grafter. He's got incredible natural ability though, still young and could still make one great impact sub next season.

I hope he comes back in the summer, but I get the feeling Koeman will be happy to take the money.

Steve Ferns
3 Posted 09/02/2017 at 00:20:58

Bologna lost their last game 7-1.

Jason Broome
4 Posted 09/02/2017 at 03:29:30

...and we let this go!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgjXTFezXKU

David Ellis
5 Posted 09/02/2017 at 03:42:23

Gavin @2 - I think you answered your own question as to why we let him go!

Christopher Kelly
6 Posted 09/02/2017 at 05:16:10

Played a blinder. Watched the replay. His game definitely suits a more continental style.

Ian Jones
7 Posted 09/02/2017 at 05:26:21

I like his comment that he prefers to try the difficult things rather than take the easy option.

Scott Milne
8 Posted 09/02/2017 at 06:31:33

I'm more excited by what I've seen from Lookman so far, kid seems to have all Geri's skill but brings a much higher workrate and a better team-player mindset.

Him & Bolasie on either flank next season will be good viewing!

Lennon will surely leave, can't see Valencia signing permanently and with only Mirallas as a viable alternative, Geri might still have a place under Koeman (unleash him in European games)

But there's every chance he'll be gone and Moshiri will (should) go out and get a big name or 2 in to push for top 4 (Mahrez/Yarmalenko?)

Dan Egerton
9 Posted 09/02/2017 at 08:52:27

Koeman demands consistency. Deulofeu doesn't bring it. It's a good idea to loan him out. Think about it, we are loaning players out to AC Milan. Who would have thought we could do that even just 2 years ago?

Gary Edwards
10 Posted 09/02/2017 at 11:05:11

Exciting and frustrating in equal measures. Probably more the latter... and therein lies his problem.

Daniel Lim
11 Posted 09/02/2017 at 11:11:50

I agree, Ian, but only to a certain extend. One of his problems is probably he doesn't know when to do the easy thing.

Anthony Lewis
12 Posted 09/02/2017 at 12:52:03

Let's face it, we all knew that he would go over there and set up a goals and produce moments of brilliance. Shame he was so inconsistent for us, cos I really like the guy and I suspect a lot of us do too.

Paul Holmes
13 Posted 09/02/2017 at 13:23:19

We have watched Deulofeu play for us a lot, he is a good impact sub at best. He has great skill but has not got the workrate to go with it, and even though he has some great assists he tends to hold on to the ball too long.

Get as much money as we can for him as he will not be motivated for us warming the bench every week.

Robert Leigh
14 Posted 09/02/2017 at 14:25:36

Yes, Scott (#8). Lookman looks more likely to shoot too; it's been too long since we've had someone ready to beat a man then shoot rather than beat a man, beat a man again, lose it, Rom's arms go up...

I like Deulofeu, but he doesn't produce it often enough. With Barkley enjoying more time on the ball slightly wider and looking at home as an inside-forward we have no need for Deulofeu, and if he does well there he will be sold for a few quid and allow us to go after a better player. If Swansea go down I'd take Sigurdsson and even Routledge over Deulofeu – more end product.

Jay Harris
15 Posted 09/02/2017 at 17:03:45

Lots of spot-on comments.

Geri is very likeable, skillful but is too inconsistent even in the same game.

He could never apply himself for 90 minutes and therefore becomes a crowdpleaser rather than a gamewinner.

Colin Glassar
16 Posted 09/02/2017 at 18:03:59

Geri will do a lot better in Italian football. He won't be the first, or last, talented foreigner who falls flat on his face in this league.

Saleh, Schevchenko, Cuadrado, Campos, Markovic etc all good players who just couldn't cut it here.

Dan Egerton
17 Posted 09/02/2017 at 18:30:55

He's already come under fire from their coach. He was told to improve. That was before his assist mind you, but their coach is aware of his lack of consistency.

James Flynn
18 Posted 10/02/2017 at 02:29:17

Wow, he made a good play.

Then what?

Steve Ferns
19 Posted 10/02/2017 at 02:35:59

For me, as much as I love to watch him when he's on it, he's like a Spanish Peter Beagrie.

Colin Metcalfe
20 Posted 10/02/2017 at 03:52:10

Yes, he is inconsistent but he can turn a game coming off the bench , he has got that unpredictability that you need against some defenses that are hard to crack.

Everton I feel are finally turning things around after a pretty dreadful run of form before Christmas which saw us drop so many valuable points and so, if we do push on and get one of those European places, I do feel Geri would be a valuable member of the squad.

I say let him gain the experience of the Italian league which can only improve his game and then get him back for next season.

Lukaku, who has been discussed to death over the last few days, is not the most consistent of players and I guess that's why he divides opinion so strongly in fact our most important game of 2016 was the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and he had a shocker, it was only when Deulofeu came on that we started to compete and it was his cross that got deflected into the net.

I am a big fan and he can only add to the quality of the squad next season. Let's keep him and work on his game; he is still young and I feel that somewhere down the line we would regret letting Geri go.

Ian Hollingworth
21 Posted 10/02/2017 at 12:50:55

Unfortunately he will be on the bench by mid March.I don't know why he just doesn't seem to be able to keep good form going.

Brian Furey
22 Posted 10/02/2017 at 14:58:49

That's what wingers do, Ian. Every so often they are great at beating their man and setting up goals and then other days they are rubbish.

Think of how many wingers you know that are consistently good. The better ones make up for this by at least working hard for the team and closing down and pressing. Geri isn't prepared to do that and so that is why he only plays the odd time as a sub.

He's not willing to play that role for us but nearly every time he's moved to a new club, he does well at the start and gets good game time but then bit by bit he becomes a 2nd half sub most of the time.

The other YouTube videos there show both the good and the bad side of him. Some of his crosses in are woeful and don't beat the first man whereas others are excellent.

They seem to be playing him in the left wing, yet he is mainly right-footed.

Tony Hill
23 Posted 10/02/2017 at 15:26:27

It was very like his Leicester assist for Lukaku, but he doesn't do it consistently. I was a fan but we can do better.

Paul Conway
24 Posted 10/02/2017 at 18:04:54

The fact that he had a good game is part of his inconsistency. His good game was well overdue.

Mick Davies
25 Posted 12/02/2017 at 00:23:04

Barca have first shout, so I don't think he'll be going back there, but it may force Koeman to keep him for another season, especially if we are in the Europa League. It won't do him any harm, half a season in Italy.

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