'Our fate is in our own hands'

It says much about Barcelona's immaculate standards that the word 'crisis' has been muttered around the corridors of power at the Nou Camp in recent weeks.

Back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Real Madrid, not to mention a 2-2 draw against Jose Mourinho's Blues last month, would not be considered a catastrophe for any other club in the world, but when you are established as the primary force in club soccer, such high-profile setbacks are hard to accept.

Doubts over the form and fitness of the great Ronaldinho and the loss of Samuel Eto'o to a long-term injury are obvious concerns for Barca boss Frank Rijkaard, yet ahead of their must win Champions League game against Levski Sofia on Tuesday evening, midfield maestro Deco is doing his best to bring some perspective to the situation.

'Everyone knows it's more difficult to stay at the top than it is to get there,' he suggests. 'Your opponents always try that little bit harder and subconsciously, there is a temptation to sit back and believe the results will come for you. I don't think we have been especially complacent this season, but you have to be permanently on your guard against it.

'Injuries haven't helped either. To lose Samuel Eto'o for several months was a major setback; he is one of the best strikers in the world and for a midfielder like me, it's fantastic to have someone in front of you who makes such great runs.

'To make matters worse Lionel Messi and Javier Saviola are out too, so there's no question that we are a little light up front', admits the Portuguese playmaker.

'Despite that, I'm still convinced we have enough firepower to get by. Ronaldinho, Ludo Giuly, Eidur Gudjohnsen and myself all have the capability of scoring on a regular basis.

'Let's be realistic. People can say what they like about Barca being out of form so far this season, but they overlook that we are still in a good position at the top of La Liga and have yet to say our last word in Europe. We've had our share of adversity, but I'm sure we have the character to successfully come through it. In big games, big players step up. That's what I expect with us.'

The idea that the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League will be made without the presence of the reigning European kings is hard to contemplate, even those who are not fervent Barca fans.

However, the fact that a 1-0 defeat for Chelsea against Werder Bremen this week might not be a bad result for Jose Mourinho's men makes Barca's position all the more precarious, yet Deco insists the champions of 2006 are determined to remain calm and focused.

'The Chelsea results have obviously made things harder than they should have been for us, but thankfully we still have our fate in our own hands,' he continues. 'We now face two huge games against Levski Sofia and Bremen and if we win these two finals, we go through.

'I'm not thinking about what Bremen might or might not do when they play Chelsea. We must focus on ourselves. We have to forget past achievements. Everything is on the line and the best Barca has to turn up.

'Of course, the Bremen game is the big one and it won't be easy. In Germany we needed a late equaliser to force a draw and when we met last season, Bremen gave us a few problems. In fact I'd say they were our hardest opponents in the entire campaign. They are very aggressive and go forward all the time.

'No one here is contemplating elimination. I can't imagine Barca not being in the second round draw and once there, we all start afresh with a clean slate. What's gone before, doesn't count for much. Then it's all about getting it right in, hopefully, seven sudden-death games.'

Deco's reflections of the two games against Premiership champions Chelsea makes fascinating reading as it seems that Didier Drogba's injury time leveller in the 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp hit Rijkaard's men hard. 'I'm usually able to move on from a bad result rather easily, but the disappointment of this game still burns,' he concedes. 'To lead twice and then concede an equaliser deep into injury time was a real blow.

'It was a defeat in everything but name, there's no point in trying to deny it. We played some great football, perhaps some of the best we have produced this season, our attitude was just right and we put a very strong Chelsea side under a lot of pressure, but they stood firm.

'It's so frustrating that we allowed Drogba to draw level at the death. We should have been more careful and I cannot stop thinking about why we don't have the three points from this game.'

Despite the setback, he is full of praise for the side now managed by the man who guided him through his early career at FC Porto and he even goes as far as to suggest they could be Champions League victors in 2007. 'What really struck me about Chelsea this time was their huge desire,' adds Deco. 'They wanted the win far more than us and literally walked all over us in the first game in London, which was a big surprise.

'Chelsea have superstars all over the pitch, but also a great togetherness. Look how intensely they celebrated their goal and at the final whistle at Stamford Bridge; this was a team who wanted to win more than their opponents.

'They are a terrific unit and a good example to us. Maybe we have some players who can make it difficult for them and if we meet again later in the competition, the result could be different, but you have to be prepared to match their desire to beat Chelsea. We were not up to the task this time.

'Apart from Barcelona, if I had to pick the team that looks like being Champions League winners right now, I would have to say Chelsea. They have the players, the tactical organisation and the hunger to go all the way.'

We should find out whether Barcelona still have all of those winning qualities in their next two Champions League fixtures.

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