Doni ready to make amends

Doni's transfer to AS Roma in summer 2005 passed almost unnoticed, but he has been impressing ever since. Doni had actually paid €18,000 to buy out his contract at EC Juventude to make the switch and it has proved money well spent. Now 28, he is regarded as one of the most consistent goalkeepers in Italy and is an important part of a Roma side still in the hunt for honours on three fronts. The Giallorossi keep up the chase on FC Internazionale Milano in Serie A, are through to the Coppa Italia semi-finals and back in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League. Doni may have conceded seven goals against Manchester United FC at Old Trafford at this stage last season, but as he insists in this Q&A with uefa.com readers, that is a scoreline you will never see again.

What was it like to play in goal during the famous 7-1 defeat against Manchester United last year and how hard was it to recover from that?
Türkan Ilhan, Nogent-sur-Seine, Aube, France

Well, it was obviously hard. It took us a few weeks to recover. Nobody was expecting anything like that. We were ashamed. Looking back, I can see the bright side of it. It was a learning experience for our team. I am sure we could play for another 100 years and it would not happen again.

What's more important to you, the UEFA Champions League or Serie A?
Franco Nicolino, Argentina

Tough one: I want them both! But I have to say the Champions League is something different. It is bigger than our domestic league. Actually it is bigger than any other club competition in the world.

Roma fans create a very heated atmosphere. Does the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico remind you of Brazil? Did it help you when you arrived in Rome or did it scare you?
Francesco, Rome, Italy

Roma's supporters are very similar to Corinthians' and Flamengo's, two of the biggest and more fanatical followings in Brazil. I played for Corinthians, so I was pretty used to it, it didn't scare me at all. Here, in Italy, only Napoli's fans are as passionate as Roma's. Our stadium is considered a tough place to play and it really must be like that for the opponents. It is noisy and there's a lot of pressure.

Is the fight for the Scudetto over?
Julien Marcantonio, France

There was a time when we were eleven points behind and Inter were playing such magnificent football that there was a tendency was to think it was over. It wasn't. Now Inter are out of the Champions League and going through a bad patch. We are full of confidence and playing very good football so I think the championship will be open until the end.

Do you have idols or role models?
Lukas Zumoberhaus, Switzerland

I liked Cláudio Taffarel when I was younger. He was an idol for my generation. Our styles are quite different, though. Taffarel was shorter and quicker; I am taller. I played alongside Dida at Corinthians and learnt a lot from him as we are quite similar in terms of physique.

Could you imagine playing for another club one day? What is it that Roma has which makes players want to stick around?
Giuliano Stachetti Ducceschi, Serra Negra, Brazil

No, I don't see myself playing for any other club. I am very, very happy here. I'm about to sign a new contract. My idea is to play for Roma until the end of my career. I want to stay here for seven more years, at least. I have nailed down my position and I don't want to leave it. The supporters are great, the club likes Brazilian players, the city is great, the weather is warm and perfect, I live close to the beach … The food is perfect as well! There's nothing but positives here.

Julio Gomes Filho put your questions to Doni