Chelsea midfielder Deco has hit out at claims he is Luiz Felipe Scolari's pet player.
The Portuguese international has come in for criticism as the Blues' form has slumped in recent weeks.
Some fans are also frustrated he has received what they perceive as preferential treatment from boss Scolari.
The former Barcelona star has completed 90 minutes regularly for the Blues this season while the likes of Joe Cole have found themselves substituted in virtually every game.
But Deco is baffled why he is being singled out, claiming he has always been a starter during successful spells at Porto and Barcelona.
He said: "I do not understand why people are saying this about me and Felipao (Scolari).
"When we first came (to Chelsea) and things were going well, it was all 'Felipao is the boss - this team is going to win everything'.
"Now it's all different and people are looking to blame somebody."
Deco began the season in great form, scoring terrific goals against Pompey and Wigan but has struggled to find the net since.
But the former Porto star - who won the UEFA Champion League while in Portugal - is adamant he deserves to play and refutes claims he is in the team purely because he has worked with Scolari before.
"Anybody who claims that I am only in the team because of my relationship with Felipao is simply making it up.
"I have won many things in my football career and none of them were with Felipao.
"If you look at my career I was rarely on the bench for any team. Wherever I have been, I have been a starter and Felipao was not my coach there. I do not need to explain myself," he added.
The 31-year-old has also stated he hopes to return to his home town of Sao Paulo in Brazil to finish his career.
"I have a desire to come back to live in Brazil and I have a dream to go back to Corinthians.
"I have three more years at Chelsea but this will be my last contract in Europe."
Your Comments
swanny64
"ha ha . i find these comments so funny yet so true. the facts are,he is a lap dog,a daddy,s boy if you will. the fact he played for barcelona proves nothing. he was a small fish in a very big pond,why do you think only chelsea came in for him?MONEY, thats why. but all is not lost, rest assured when scolari(i,ll take the money before pride) stops being amused by his pet man city will move in and give him a new but richer kennel to move into. the boy is useless and very very lucky."
kopoffwivyrwife
"mikeh9995 couldnt have put it better myself, but chelsea will be much better with carvalho and essien fully fit. thats what i think but i hope im wrong, chelsea at there best is a scary thought!"
mikeh9995
"IrishBlue - true, but Deco's always selected for the Prem games and is usually given a full match, regardless of his performance. At least some of the other failures this season - Ballack, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba - are dropped or subbed. We do need a decent wide player (or even two!). But even that's no excuse for not playing Anelka and Drogba up front in a 4-4-2. They are quite different players and should complement one another. If Joey Cole were given a 'free' role, overlapping on the left or right, a 4-4-2 could work. I can't believe how unimaginative Scolari is being."
McFunkalot
"i'd really like to have a pet Deco. i hope Scolari knows thats pets are for life, not just for christmas, or the opening few games of the season"
IrishBlue
"It's a bit unfair to be placing the blame squarely on Deco's shoulders. Many in the team have failed to perform over the past month or so, and he is just one of them. The distinct lack of a second winger means we need to do business in the transfer market this Jan. Ship Malouda out and get someone better to replace him. We need Essien back to, to give the midfield more bite. "
mikeh9995
"Well, Deco, how do you explain this: you have been s***e for most of the season (after a great start, admittedly)), you don't tackle, your passing is poor, your free kicks and corners are wildly inaccurate, you do not work for the team and you rarely seem to put much effort in? So, you cannot surely feel you "deserve" to be in the starting 11! Actually, you DO need to explain your poor performances to us loyal supporters as what we have seen thus far has been largely unacceptable. Either play like you want to be here or sod off!!"
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