Deco: “Messi is a decisive player”
A few days back, former Barcelona midfielder Deco, now plying his trade with Brazilian club Fluminese, spoke to Don Balon magazine regarding FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi and the Portuguese National team. Following the jump are the translations of his answers regarding Barça and Messi. The full interview can be read here.
-Did you have fun watching Barça last season?
Barça is a great team. They were in such a great shape, playing at a very high level, they were much better than anyone else. And they also have Messi. He is spectacular, decisive for the team. He is a player capable of doing uncommon things. I enjoy myself a lot watching Barça.
-What is the different between Barça and the rest of the teams out there?
Barça have always had this distinctive culture of good football. They maintain their style beyond the players they have. The actual version of Barça mixes a great group of players, with lots of talent, who interpret that philosophy close to perfection.
- Do you think the Barça style can make an era or make a trend in world football?
I have always liked that style of play. Brazil’s NT have used that style before. Barça is teaching the world not only a way of playing fooball, but also a way of winning: keeping the ball possession as the key to control a game. But it is important to have players that can understand that football.
-Do you think Barça can improve this season?
It will be hard for them to improve, since they finished last season playing at a very high level. Nobody can predict how long this team can keep up playing like they do now, but I would say Barça will keep winning for some years. I think they will keep this incredible football for two or three more years, at least.
-What do you think they have to do to keep playing this way, to keep this great football flowing?
It is something complicated to say because nobody knows how Barça players would react if they stop winning silverware. The natural thing would be for these massive teams to get to an end at some point. It’s inevitable. But I hope that happens as late as possible, since they’re playing so great and considering the fact that I am a former Barça player.
-Do you think Cesc’s signing can help to keep the good football?
You never know, but I think he will be an important player and will help the team with his quality. But his position on the field depends on the coach. Cesc is young, he’ll fit in the dressing room and having a young new player is always positive to refresh the dressing room.
-Do you think Barça’s future depends on Messi being happy at the club?
I would say 50%. Messi has always had a football culture of his own. He is a rare phenomenon. Barça would probably keep winning without him, and playing good, but they wouldn’t be so spectacular as they are with him on the pitch.
-How good do you think he is?
Messi is a decisive player, and also a great scorer. He is already one of Barça’s top scorers of all time, without being a striker. He offers lots of goals as Romario and Ronaldo did, and he is also as spectacular as Ronaldinho.
-He’s got it all, then..
He does: he plays like the central creative midfielder and also scores a lot. He is on his way of becoming the best football player of all time, due his talent and his efficiency.
-Is he as humble as he looks?
He is to me. He is my friend and I don’t see him changed. He is a world renowed football player but also a great person.
-Who will you support for European Supercup?
I had a fantastic history and hold great memories of my time both at Porto and Barça, and I have friends playing for both clubs. This final will be tough for me…
Ahh Deco, remember the days when he and Ronaldinho were our Xavi and Iniesta, an absolutely spectacular football player.
always loved Deco.
hi
Ew, that pic of Deco, Messi & Ronaldinho is awesome <3
and don't forget about eto…
Useless interview. The questions are like "do you like your mommy?". What does it take to ask some real questions?
I did not think it was a "useless interview". It was an amazing interview with intelligent questions and great answers from a beloved player from the past.
Appreciate the author's time and effort to translate it for readers like yourself. Thank you.
Hey, everyone has the right of an opinion, even to dislike an interview. He/she is definitely appreciating the translator's work for TB to post it here. I think "mia" was saying the don Balon interviewer could have asked better quesions. And I agree with Mia. It was mostly: So Barca is cool, right? Yeah, very cool.
Everyone who makes a comment even slightly in criticism of anything connected to Barca, and you can immediately see 58 thumbs down. Well, we should not be oblivious, and try to appreciate criticism (well, constructive criticism), in order to improve.
Visca el Barca i visca Catalunya!
agreed
Why do Deco's brows always make him look so sad? :p
Deco not as good as Xavi or Iniesta. But a very important player, When he played here. And played his best football at Barcelona, i think. He scored some beutiful goals also! To me he always have seemed to be a really good person! He is the player Thiago reminds me most of!
Dude!!! It is hard to say who is better than Xavi and Iniesta, but DECO was up there together with them. Do you actually remember him? He was SUBLIME!!!
Deco waz legend and will always be a legend in eyes of all cules them men waz soo amazing he even outshine our great xavi when deco was on field I remember this one pass he did to guily one day from our own box men that video still on yyoutube deco amazing pass which eventually waz offside long live the great deco ronie and eto they jump started the amazing team we are witnessing today.. Bless
messi vs napoli!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyXl5Fd29Y&fe…
Deco: "Messi is a decisive player"
No shit Sherlock?
damn it, every time i see a pic with ronaldinho and messi in it i always think of what could happen if ronaldinho in his prime played with messi now. i have a feeling we would be seeing an all new version of defensive football where players sit on each other shoulders and block the whole goal.
Interesting question to all. if deco in his prime was in this barca team, would he start over either xavi or iniesta? my answer is no, simply because xavi and iniesta have created an understanding that makes them the current greatest duo in football.
hope deco returns to get a role in barcelona or to live in the city. this guy was a beast.
That MAN Gaucho!!!! Mmmmmh
I miss Gaucho.Definitely the most naturally gifted footballer of all time.He should be up there with the best of them.I don’t get it why he is not!!!
During his years at Barca, Deco was simply superb. He is up there.
I love this guy.. I remember when christiano ronaldo won the ballon dor and messi came runner up deco said " I'm not worried about messi, cuz he'll win the ballon dor for many years to come ". True words from a great player..
I've never been a huge fan of the Portugese NT, but my cousins (who are part Portugese) brought back a Portugal jersey with Deco on the back. I wear that shirt happily, given how much respect I have for the player.
with messi’s best form ever and great ronaldinho’s best form ever, who is the barcelona’s no 10 jersey suit most?
with messi’s best form ever and great ronaldinho’s best form ever, who is the barcelona’s no 10 jersey suit most???