FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.08.2007 12:08

Deco not fearing for his place

Berta Brau

Portuguese international Deco is not worried about his place in the starting eleven, saying “whenever I have played it has because I won my place by working hard” and claims that is what he intends to carry on doing.

The midfielder returned to training at La Masia on Monday and said “I have followed a training plan in Brazil and have managed to train hard to keep in shape”. Deco has politely rejected criticism that he had no right to spend so much time in Brazil, where his wife was giving birth to his fourth child. “There will always be criticism, and if I hadn’t gone they’d have criticised me for not being a good father.”

No fear

Deco doesn’t think the fact he missed the Asian tour should affect his condition in the team. “It will be more difficult but it is the boss who has to find the best team. I will play for my place”, he said, and added “there are a lot of people but there are also a lot of games and the most important thing is to be ready to help when needed”.

Motivated and keen to start

Does Deco think there is any chance of all four strikers playing together? He thinks the idea is at least feasible, because they “are great players”, but of course, the man to decide on that is Frank Rijkaard. Asked about his hopes for the team, Deco suggested that both the players and the fans will be hoping to achieve a lot more than they managed last season.

Staying put

Deco shunned any possible suggestion that he may not be staying at the Camp Nou for much longer. “The club does not want to sell me and the boss has me in his plans, so there is nothing to talk about” he said.