Comment: Why Yoann Gourcuff caved under AC Milan expectations, but could still shine at youthful Arsenal

Bordeaux star could thrive in Premier League...

By Carlo Garganese

2 Jun 2010 12:30:00

When Yoann Gourcuff arrived at Milan, he was considered as one of Europe's most promising young talents. Arsenal were one of a number of top European teams that the Rossoneri beat to his signature. He scored on his Champions League group game debut against AEK Athens and it was clear that this was a very technically gifted player.

However, during his two seasons at Milan it just didn't happen for Gourcuff. He was never a first choice player at any time, never received a starting run in the team, and as time wore on lost more and more confidence and playing time.

Also, Kaka was an important reason why Gourcuff didn't prosper but not the only human factor. The Brazilian played in the same position as Gourcuff - in fact the two possess a quite similar style - and Kaka has never co-existed well with similar players to him. Another example being Ronaldinho. But there were also numerous other creative players ahead of Gourcuff in the pecking order such as Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo.

There is no doubt that Gourcuff had the talent, but in Italy the mental and tactical side of the game is very important too. Gourcuff came to be regarded as psychologically weak and tactically he would take up the wrong positions on the pitch. Due to a lack of playing time, his rhythm and confidence decreased and it became one big cycle where it was clear Gourcuff needed to leave in order to rediscover himself.

Amongst the stars | But Gourcuff struggled at Milan

Part of the blame falls on Gourcuff as he seemed unwilling to sacrifice himself tactically at times, and when he was given the chance in Coppa Italia matches and lesser games he hardly shone enough to warrant a first team place. The presence of so many established and experienced stars made it very difficult, coupled with the fact that Gourcuff was very young and perhaps wasn't ready for such a big club. It was also clear that coach Carlo Ancelotti never fancied Gourcuff as a player, and Carletto hinted at this numerous times.

At Milan, Gourcuff failed to handle expectations. There is a school of thought in Italy that believes Gourcuff is a bit of a Ricardo Quaresma: that he is brilliant at clubs in smaller leagues - Quaresma was magnificent in Portugal but flopped in Italy and England - but doesn't have the personality to stamp his mark in a top club or league.

At Arsenal, he may find things easier because he will be surrounded by many youngsters and will feel like more of a leader whereas at Milan he was probably a bit starstruck and knew there was a hierarchy he could never break into. I think he will do very well at Arsenal.

Gourcuff's return to Franceby Robin Bairner Goal.com's French expert

When Gourcuff left Rennes, he had already made a name for himself locally, established as one of the Breton club’s favourites because of his individual talents. Clearly he spent much of his time in Milan frustrated, but this may actually have helped his development as he has returned to France a stronger player mentally. Despite a relative lack of first team football, he came back a more complete technical player.

At Bordeaux there has been a great deal of expectancy placed on his shoulders, and for the most part he has coped admirably with it. Les Girondins’ strong run in Europe last season was largely because of Gourcuff’s offensive excellence, and though he tailed off badly towards the end of the campaign - probably more due to injury than anything else - he has returned strongly for France and is poised to be a key man in South Africa.

Playing in the Premier League on a weekly basis is a significant step up, but Gourcuff would seem to possess all the necessary requirements to crack one of the toughest leagues in the world. There does remain a question mark over how quickly he could settle in a foreign country, and also how he would cope given another run on the bench, but technically there should be no worries about the 23-year-old, who has borne incredible expectation in France over the last two seasons.