Deco determined to learn from mistakes

Deco's Diary

I am delighted to return to UEFA Champions League action after missing four games in the group stage because of injuries. I am completely fit again after my injury, although it has been difficult to regain my rhythm and match sharpness. This is my fourth season at Barcelona, and in the last three years we have faced British sides in the first knockout round. We lost to Chelsea in 2005, beat them in 2006, and lost to Liverpool last season.

Lesson learned
We should learn our lesson from that defeat. These ties are decided over two games, not one. We took too many chances in the first leg against Liverpool because we were playing at home, and forgot we could still win away. Having lost 2-1, though, things became very difficult. The first result has always a huge influence on the second game. We can't make the same mistakes this time against Celtic. We played them in 2004/05 and we were the first team to beat them in Glasgow in a Champions League match.

Celtic fans the best
We've played Rangers twice this season, so we're pretty used to the Scottish style. They are aggressive, fight for every ball, and put pressure on you by getting a lot of crosses into the box. Celtic supporters are the best in Europe alongside Liverpool fans. They are really noisy and you end up listening to them. Once a game starts, footballers tend to ignore the noise. But it helps a lot to motivate their team. What they do is marvellous.

Lack of goals
We have been criticised for a lack of goals, but I think there is no need to worry. We've been creating chances. That's the important thing. We need to be more clinical with our chances, but it is a matter of time. It is also a factor that we've never had all our forwards available. There is always someone injured or away. Now Samuel Eto'o is back, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry are fine, and Ronaldinho is regaining his form.

European dream
The Champions League is our big dream. It would be fantastic to win it again. But I'm not ruling out catching Real Madrid in the league either. Although it's not in our hands any more, I think we can win more games than them and fight for our third title in four years. It is difficult, but far from impossible. Beyond the job with Barcelona, my other objective this year is to win UEFA EURO 2008 with Portugal. We recently lost to Italy in a friendly in Switzerland, which shows how difficult the tournament will be. One of the things we have to improve is to be more alert during games. We've been conceding silly goals and we have to avoid doing that on the big stage.

Deco was talking to Julio Gomes Filho.