Deco: No Blues regrets

Barcelona ace Deco insists he has no regrets about spurning Chelsea.

The big-spending Blues were keen to sign the Portugal international last summer but Deco opted for Barcelona after deciding to quit European champions Porto.

Under current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, Deco flourished at Porto but decided against continuing his working relationship with the tactician.

In midweek, Deco will have the chance to demonstrate what Chelsea are missing when the two clubs meet in the UEFA Champions League.

Deco is relishing his time in Spain and admits he harbours no thoughts that he made the wrong decision in snubbing a deal at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm glad I didn't join Chelsea," said Deco.

"Barcelona was a club I wanted to go to for a long time and there was no choice to make.

"If I'd moved to England I would just have got depressed. Life here is wonderful compared to London."

The Brazilian-born schemer also downplayed the impact Mourinho had on his career, claiming Barca boss Frank Rijkaard is the better coach.

He added: "People say he [Mourinho] made me into a great player but it isn't true. He didn't change my game.

"It is me who has worked hard to become better.

"Mourinho knows how to read the game but Rijkaard understands players better. He learnt a lot from being a great player whereas Mourinho wasn't."