Deco tips Chelsea to make final

28 April 2014 23:17

Deco believes the 2014 Champions League is heading towards an ideal climax for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The former Portugal and Chelsea playmaker was in Mourinho's Porto team which won the 2004 tournament and expects to see the Blues advance to the May 24 Lisbon final by beating Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's semi-final second leg.

The Brazil-born midfielder, who played for Chelsea for two years from 2008, predicts Mourinho will face Real Madrid, the side he left last summer, in the final after the Spaniards took a first-leg advantage over defending champions Bayern Munich.

Deco, who as the MasterCard Player Mascot Manager will help give 22 kids a Priceless Experience at the Champions League final, told Press Association Sport: "For him he can be in the final; it's the cup for him.

"Maybe against his last team, Real Madrid. I think it would be very good for him.

"I think Chelsea will go through. (The first leg) was a difficult game. They didn't take risks because they knew that they had the second game in London."

Deco played for Barcelona, winning his second Champions League in 2006, but the triumph under Mourinho was a career highlight for the now-retired 36-year-old.

"He's a fantastic coach," Deco added.

"When we won the Champions League with Porto, it was very good. He's still a friend."

Deco would take great delight from Chelsea winning the tournament for a second time in three years.

He said: "The Champions League is the best tournament in the world you can play in a club. When a player wins it is amazing."

Source: PA