Chelsea's Deco: 'Mourinho Is The Ideal Coach'

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Chelsea midfielder Deco has claimed that Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is “the ideal coach”, having played under the self-dubbed ‘Special One’ at Porto.

31-year-old Deco, who has made an instant impact at Stamford Bridge after his £8million transfer from La Liga giants Barcelona, has worked under three of footballs finest coaches in Mourinho, Barca boss Frank Rijkaard and current manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Portuguese International has claimed that Scolari and Rijkaard, while having different approaches to coaching, both have the unique ability to unify a squad, while the attacking style that Rijkaard brought to the Nou Camp suited him.

“The Dutch brand of football that Rijkaard brought fitted in well at Barcelona, which is a club that likes to play good football, even though they have since changed coach,” Deco told fifa.com.

“Scolari brings a more typically South American approach.

“They are two very different personalities, but what they have in common is that both, in their own way, bring a sense of unity to a squad. But I think Felipão is even better at it because he is more outgoing and spontaneous.”

However, it is former Chelsea manager Mourinho’s measured approach to every aspect of the game that Deco believes separates the ‘Special One’ from his peers.

“Mourinho takes a measured, scholarly approach and is always aware of every aspect - not just the match itself but the build-up, the atmosphere, the psychological pressure,” Deco added.

“In that sense he is the ideal coach and a very intelligent man.”

Deco, who has already scored twice in five appearances for the Blues has also claimed that the present Chelsea team has the potential to be better than the Barcelona team that he won two La Liga titles with or the Porto Champions League winning team in which he played under Mourinho.

“The Barcelona team which won the Champions League played a stylish brand of football for two seasons that any team would find hard to match,” he added.

“That said, the 2003/04 Porto side was also very strong.

“However, in all honesty, the current Chelsea team has the maturity and presence to go further still. It reminds me of that Porto team but with even greater quality.”