Deco 'not too old to learn at 30'

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

MACAU (AFP) — New Chelsea playmaker Deco brushed off Alex Ferguson's jibes about the team's age as he insisted he still had room to develop at the age of 30.

Deco, who looked immediately at ease in his team debut, said Chelsea represented a fresh challenge after glittering spells at Porto and Barcelona.

"I've got a lot of new things to learn," he said. "I consider coming to Chelsea as a challenge.

"Overall I think Chelsea has a very strong team and there are definitely still things to learn, despite being 30."

Deco is one of several players aged 30 or more in Chelsea's first-team squad, prompting remarks from Manchester United's Ferguson that they were too old to improve.

New Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has refused to rise to the bait,...