Ronaldo incentive keeps Deco eager

Deco's diary

I'm celebrating an anniversary. It is five years since I made my Portugal debut. It was 29 March 2003 when I scored against Brazil in Porto. Curiously, my first game was against my native country and the first coach to call me up was a Brazilian, Luiz Felipe Scolari. I am Brazilian and love my country, but I don't regret playing for Portugal. It was and still is a way of thanking the country for the opportunity it gave me.

But this is a minor diversion: I am more concerned with getting fit for the UEFA Champions League first leg against FC Schalke 04, though if I do not make it, I will certainly be ready for the second leg next week. It has been a frustrating season for me because of injuries and it is difficult to contribute from the sidelines. The only thing that makes me happy is that I've been playing well when fit, although I have not had long enough to find my rhythm. The injuries have come in very inopportune moments.

People say we are favourites against Schalke and I don't think we can deny that. It is going to be really tough, though. The only advantage we really have is to play the second leg at home; all the rest is media talk. History and names aren't enough to earn victory as Schalke have a talented, well balanced side. Besides, we've been struggling to win games this year. When expectations are too high, sometimes the disappointment is out of proportion. People think we are going to win everything, but football is not that simple.

I hope we can go through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and challenge Real Madrid CF until the end in the Primera División. If we get past Schalke, our probable opponents in the last four are Manchester United FC. For me they are the best English side right now and they have the man of the moment: Cristiano Ronaldo. They play a style of football I enjoy watching more than any other. Let's not forget the other British sides, though. Chelsea FC are very strong and experienced, Arsenal FC are young and talented and Liverpool FC, as we all know, are always very tough to beat over two legs.

The fact that all of them are in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals shows how strong the Premier League is. It is well organised and I am glad to see that they started signing more Brazilian players. I think it is the one thing they are missing at the moment.

Deco was speaking to Julio Gomes Filho