Chelsea playmaker Deco has slammed reports insinuating he is only playing because he is Luiz Felipe Scolari's pet.

According to the Sun, the Brazilian-born Portgual international has also refuted suggestions that he doesn't deserve a first-team place.

“It is absolute nonsense to claim that he is biased towards me," he said.

“I do not need to defend myself but it is a fact that I have won many titles in my career without Scolari.

“It is just that I am rarely on the subs’ bench at Chelsea. But that has been the case throughout my career. I have always been a first-team player.

“Scolari and I simply just work together on a daily basis, which is a good experience because he is a fantastic person.”

Deco, 31, who played under Scolari for Portugal, is Big Phil’s only signing for Chelsea, having joined from Barcelona for US$12 million in August.

But he has failed to impress all his team-mates as the Blues have struggled for consistency.

Deco has 18 months of his Stamford Bridge agreement to run with the option of a further 12 months.

But he admits he is likely to finish his career in the land of his birth when his US$135,000-a-week Chelsea contract expires.

He said: “I am very eager to return to living in Brazil. I have been away from home for 12 years and I miss my friends and family.

“I loved living in Portugal, where I was well treated and had many friends. And Barcelona was also a fantastic city. But Brazil is where I truly feel at home.”