I am not Phil Scolari's pet, blasts Chelsea star Deco

Angry Deco last night hit back at the Chelsea whispering campaign as he insisted he is not the pet of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

In an impassioned outburst, the Portugal midfielder hit back at the snipers from inside and outside the club who believe he has received preferential treatment from the new Stamford Bridge boss.

And Deco also sparked more potential problems by admitting he is homesick for Brazil and wishes to end his playing days at first club Corinthians while he is still able to play at the highest level.

The furore over Deco's role under Scolari has grown in recent weeks with fans and sources close to the dressing room comparing his treatment with that of Joe Cole.

Cole has completed 90 minutes just once this season, being hauled off in 17 of his 18 starts, while the £8million summer capture from Barcelona has only been replaced five times in 20 outings despite unimpressive form. But a frustrated and indignant Deco broke his silence as he maintained he was in Scolari's team purely on merit.

Deco said: "I do not understand why people are saying this about me and Felipao (Scolari).

"When we first came 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, just like what happened in Portugal and Spain."

Deco, who began the season with stunning strikes against Portsmouth and Wigan, has added a solitary goal at Bolton since, as scrutiny of his below-par displays has increased.

But the man who lifted the Champions League with Porto and Barcelona is adamant he is being selected by Scolari because he deserves to play.

He added: "Anybody who claims that I am only in the team because of my relationship with Felipao is simply making it up.

"Yes, he is somebody with a great heart, a manager who is very easy to work with and who it is great to work with every day.

"But 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've been, I have been a starter, and Felipao was not my coach there. I do not need to explain myself."

Deco's words were a shot across the bows of his internal critics, some of whom have privately questioned his commitment, while even members of the hierarchy concede he is not the force he was in the opening weeks of the campaign.

But while the 31-year-old insisted he found London a "fantastic" city, he also revealed his stay at the Bridge is likely to be short as his last remaining ambition is a return to the club where it all began in his home state of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Deco added: "I have a desire to come back to live in Brazil and I have a dream to go back to Corinthians.

"I already think about coming back to Brazil. I have three more years at Chelsea but this will be my last contract in Europe.

"All the time I feel that I am away from home.

"I've been away for 12 years and have homesickness for my friends and family.

"I lived in Portugal and adored it, and lived in Barcelona, which is a fantastic city.

"When I go back to these places I feel happy but I only feel myself at home when I am in Brazil.

"When I grew up I was a Corinthiano, but only played two games for the club before I went to Portugal.

"Now when I leave Europe, I want to be able to play and make good things happen on the pitch."

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