Lucescu ideas bearing fruit

FC Shakhtar Donetsk remain in contention to join Valencia CF in the knockout rounds from UEFA Champions League Group D after defeating a "tired" AS Roma in Ukraine. Home coach Mircea Lucescu was obviously delighted with the three points, but took more pleasure from the manner of victory.

Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar coach
The win was sweet because Roma are one of the strongest sides in Italy. The margin of victory wasn't big, but it still gives us revenge after the [4-0] defeat we suffered in Rome. The result could have been even more impressive because we had a number of chances and Elano Blumer hit the post. We prepared thoroughly and starved [Francesco] Totti, Mancini and [Simone] Perrotta of the ball; that's why we won. I'm happy with the result but more so that my ideas are finally starting to bear fruit.

Luciano Spalletti, Roma coach
Shakhtar deserved the victory as we didn't come to our usual standards. It was one of our worst performances of late. They were strong but we made too many defensive mistakes which cost us the match. They took advantage of our frailty and taught us a lesson. We did not underestimate them because you cannot do that to any team in the Champions League. We lost because we were tired and we couldn't produce what we're capable of.