Lucarelli's eyes on the prize

Normally for a player over 30, leaving a mid-table team to sign a lucrative contract with an ambitious club would be an easy decision to make. Not in the case of Cristiano Lucarelli. The Italy striker had once said that quitting AS Livorno Calcio would be like divorcing his wife. After scoring 94 goals in four seasons with his hometown team, and having turned down several big offers to stay with the side he loves, the 31-year-old finally decided to try a new adventure at Shakhtar Donetsk FC. Having made the break, Lucarelli is determined to give everything to his Ukrainian employers.

uefa.com: You lost the first leg of your UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie 1-0 at FC Salzburg. Do you still think you have a good chance of progressing to the group stage?

Lucarelli: Absolutely. We had a few chances in the first leg but unfortunately we didn't score. I think we can play even better at home and we can qualify. We just need to take the opportunities we create.

uefa.com: Do you think it will be difficult to get the better of Salzburg coach Giovanni Trapattoni?

Lucarelli: Trapattoni is a magician, a fantastic coach. There is no doubt about that. Few other people in Europe know football as well as him. But we have Mircea Lucescu on our bench and he has also gained plenty of experience at the top level during his career. It will be a great contest between two great coaches.

uefa.com: After scoring so many goals in Italy, what does playing in the UEFA Champions League mean for you?

Lucarelli: It is the best I can ask for. Now my dream is to play in the group stage. I just want to be there, to be part of it.

uefa.com: What was your first impression of Ukraine?

Lucarelli: Extremely positive. Somebody had described Donetsk to me as a 'grey' town that wasn't much fun to live in, but that wasn't true at all. I've found it very nice and hospitable since arriving here. I have also really appreciated the kindness of the Ukrainian people.

uefa.com: You had several offers when you decided to leave Livorno. Why did you accept Shakhtar's?

Lucarelli: The passion of their president [Rinat Akhmetov] really struck me. It was contagious. He made me feel like I was a very important part of his project. Football is growing fast in Ukraine. The [UEFA] European Championship will be played here in 2012. They are building a fantastic stadium here in Donetsk. And of course I cannot deny that the financial offer they made was very important.

uefa.com: You still haven't played on a regular basis at Shakhtar. When do you think you will be 100 per cent? What can you give to this team when you are fully fit?

Lucarelli: I usually reach peak condition in September so I'm not worried. I honestly think my fitness is much better than in previous years at this stage of the season, because I always need a bit of time to reach my best. I'm nearly there. I don't want to make any promises. I only want to show what I can give this team on the pitch. Everything is new to me here, so it's not easy to make predictions. However, I can already say I will give everything to Shakhtar. That is certain.

uefa.com: Shakhtar have spent a lot of money in the transfer market. Do you think they can establish themselves among the top European teams?

Lucarelli: I'm very positive about that. The president's project is very ambitious. There are a lot of good players here but there are also great training facilities. In this respect I think we are already among the best clubs in Europe. This is a key factor for the future of the club. I'm sure Shakhtar will be able to produce their own talents from the youth system and this is crucial.

This is an abridged version of a story that appears in this week's edition of the uefa.com Magazine. To read it in full, click here.