Hot shot Taison warming to Shakhtar role

After scoring perhaps the goal of the season for FC Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Europa League group stage, Taison tells UEFA.com he will try to work more wonders at his new side FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Brazilian forward drew applause from all quarters for his unbelievable volley against Rosenborg BK in Metalist's Group K home game on 8 November. "When the ball came I thought: I'm going to shoot," the 25-year-old recalled. "I didn't know if the ball would go into the stands or if it would go in. When it went towards the goal like that, I didn't believe it. I looked up and saw it had gone in. I was shocked."

That strike helped alert the world to Taison's class, but while clubs in western Europe kept tabs on him, it was Shakhtar who got his signature in January – and can now field him in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase. "I'm happy," he said. "It's a new chance, a new challenge for me at a big club like Shakhtar, and I hope I will be able to help my team-mates.

"I've been in Ukraine for two and a half years," added the former SC Internacional player, signed by Metalist in 2010/11. "The worst thing is the cold; it's very cold, it gets down to -20, -18 sometimes and we boys from Brazil, where it doesn't get so cold, really get to know what cold is. But I've adapted well, I'm calmer now, I'm more accustomed to everything. Now I have a new club, with new Brazilian team-mates who are helping me a lot."

Taison could make his Shakhtar debut in Europe's top club competition at home to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday – and is looking forward to raising his game. "The [UEFA Champions League] clubs are stronger," he said. "We have an important match against Borussia who are a great team. And we are working hard to play that match as if it were a final. So we hope to take them on and come away with a victory."

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