Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni feels the Giallorossi are ready for their Champions League clash with Manchester United on Tuesday.
The Red Devils humiliated the capital club at this stage of last year’s competition when they thrashed them 7-1 at Old Trafford.
However, Luciano Spalletti’s side has looked much more mature this time around and Doni believes the defeat helped them to grow.
“Obviously last year was hard,” the Brazilian custodian admitted to UEFA.com. “It took us a few weeks to recover. Nobody was expecting anything like that and we were ashamed.
“But looking back I can see the bright side of it. It was a learning experience for the team. I’m sure we could play for another 100 years and it wouldn’t happen again.”
Although Doni seems full of confidence, he doesn’t want to get carried away after defeating Real Madrid in the last 16.
“Can we win the Champions League? We can do it, but we are taking it step by step,” he stressed.
“Let’s try and beat our next opponents and only then will we think about the semi-finals.”
Roma’s Scudetto hopes have also been re-ignited over the last few weeks with Inter’s lead being cut to just four points.
“There was a time when we were 11 points behind and the Nerazzurri were playing such magnificent football that there was a tendency to think it was over,” Doni recalled.
“But it wasn’t. Now Inter are out of the Champions League and going through a bad patch, while we are full of confidence and playing very good football, so I think the title will be open until the end.
“What are Inter’s advantages over us? They have strength in depth. They have options for every position and can basically field two top-level teams.
“The other day Luis Figo was on the bench and Adriano has been sent back to Brazil on loan. They can afford to do that, but we can’t.”
When given the choice between clinching the Champions League or the Serie A title, Doni opted to conquer Europe.
“It’s a tough one as I want them both,” he grinned. “But if I could win just one, I’d have to go for the Champions League. It’s bigger than our domestic League – actually, it’s bigger than any other club competition in the world.”
As for his own future, Doni is completely committed to the Stadio Olimpico outfit.
“I don’t see myself playing for any other club,” he claimed. “I am very, very happy here and I’m about to sign a new contract.
“I want to play for Roma until the end of my career and stay here for at least seven more years. I have secured my position and I don’t want to leave it.
“The fans are great, the club likes Brazilian players, the city is amazing and the weather is warm and perfect. There’s nothing but positives here.
“Did I persuade Cicinho to move here? No, it wasn’t exactly like that. Cicinho and I have been friends since we played together in Botafogo’s youth team. We used to chat a lot and he began asking questions about Roma.
“I told him what the club was like – the city, the routine and so on. I gave him a very positive view and it might have influenced him, but he didn’t need to be convinced.”
Doni concluded by weighing up whether the Giallorossi need to add a new striker in the summer.
“Do we need a poacher? I don’t think we are missing one,” he maintained.
“Our Coach decided to use Francesco Totti as a lone striker and it has worked perfectly so far. We are used to it, so we don’t miss having a centre-forward. If we had one he wouldn’t get the ball because of the way our system works.”
