Premier League / Alsy / 05 August 2008 / Leave a comment

Deco provides assists, scores in the big games and is loved by managers, teammates and fans. So who is Alister Morgan to disagree?

I have a confession to make. I don't much like Deco so when my editor asked me to assess how the Portugal international might fit into Scolari's Chelsea I wondered how I might present a balanced view.

After watching Portugal beat England at the European Championships the dye was cast - Deco helped to wreck the summer of 2004.

I didn't always think this way... I watched the 2004 Champions League final when Mourinho's Porto beat Monaco 3-0. Deco scored the second, controlled the game and displayed a rare ability to shield and pass the ball with some style and accuracy. He also used to put in the odd tackle so when he received the Man of the Match award you suspected a richer club would snap him up.

Many thought that he might follow the "Special One" to the Premiership but he moved to Barcelona. In true superstar fashion his defensive responsibilities in La Liga were promptly discarded but he undeniably matured as an attacking force. Ronaldinho may have grabbed most of the headlines but Deco's promptings from centre midfield were crucial to Barcelona's success.

In happier times his former coach Frank Rijkaard said of his playmaker; "Deco is the barometer of our season, when he is in form the quality of the game rises, when he is not so good the team as a whole performs less well."

Who am I to disagree? Deco provided more assists than any other player during Porto's Champions League triumph and he carried that ethos forward during his Barcelona years.

Deco often finds the net in big games but, with a mere 13 goals in 112 games at Barcelona, Scolari will be looking for a marked improvement from his first Chelsea signing. Despite his lack of defensive effort I could never dispute his creativity. Deco seems to glide with the ball and shields it incredibly well with either foot. With such impressive close control, and a great turn of pace running with the ball, he invariably draws fouls in key areas. Chelsea will certainly benefit from more creativity and free-kicks... assuming that the players can agree on who takes them.

Ultimately, Deco was sold to Chelsea because Rijkaard was right. He was a key barometer for Barca so when his influence faded he was deemed surplus to requirements.

Even in Chelsea's lavish squad he'll need time to acclimatise to the fire and brimstone of the Premiership. He could definitely play with Essien, Lampard, Ballack and Joe Cole but he'll enjoy less time on the ball, less protection from referees and less adoration from the terraces until he acclimatises. Deco will be more comfortable in a five-man midfield which should mean more bench work for Anelka and Shevchenko on Champions League nights.

There are two key reasons why Deco should succeed at Chelsea. The first is that his talent and experience will enable him to adapt to Premiership football. More importantly his boss (until recently another Brazilian deeply integrated into Portuguese football) has complete faith in his abilities which helps a bit. Scolari and Deco have worked together for years and there's clearly a bond of trust and understanding between them. Scolari spent £8m on his first signing so, more than any other player, Deco represents Scolari's reign at Chelsea ensuring that he'll receive the time and support he needs to flourish.

Last season illustrated just how evenly matched Chelsea and Manchester United are but I feel that backing Chelsea at [2.98] for the Premiership seems too risky. Ferguson has a tad more experience in that department but Europe may provide more fertile ground for Scolari. Backing Chelsea to win the Champions League at [7.4] looks a sweeter bet especially when you consider that Deco already has two winners medals.

Tags: Alex Ferguson, Champions League betting, Chelsea, Deco, Football betting, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Manchester United, Nicolas Anelka, Premier League betting, Scolari, Shevchenko