Former Chelsea midfielder Deco has said that Fluminense coach Abel Braga does not have to explain his decision to keep the star on the bench.
Deco, 35, is now fully fit after struggling with a thigh injury last season but, despite his availability, the former Portuguese international has only played in two of Fluminense’s nine games this season and got just a few minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Grêmio on Wednesday in the Copa Libertadores.
“Abel has a feature that I always admired. The coach does not have to give explanation for the guy if he plays or not,” Deco told Globo Esporte.
“It is a group of 30 players and imagine explaining it to everyone? He does not have to explain to me, to Wagner, to Thiago (Neves) or whoever. I will always respect him.
“Here everyone has shown they can play. Thiago could have started with me and we could have lost anyway. Obviously there are those that play more or less because the coach believes those are more important, but that is not what defines the game.”
But now that he is fit again Deco is ready to play and believes he is fit enough to start games.
“I think I’m ready. I made two games and I will gain pace with time.”
Source: Globo Esporte
