Marcio Amoroso has set his sights on leading Borussia Dortmund back to the pinnacle of the European game. "I am determined to win the Champions' League," said the Brazilian, who marked his Bundesliga debut with two stunning goals.
Dortmund were crowned European champions back in 1997 with victory over Juventus and Amoroso believes the Westfalian giants have what it takes to repeat the feat.
"If we continue like this, the titles we all dream about will come," said the 27-year-old after helping his new side take three points against Nuremberg.
"I am determined to win the Champions' League and I will put all my efforts into lifting the trophy."
Amoroso received a standing ovation from the 65,000 Dortmund crowd when he was substituted after 75 minutes on Saturday. "It was a wonderful experience to play in front of this superb crowd," said the former Udinese star.
The Ł16 million signing from Parma struck up a good understanding with Dortmund's other expensive imports Jan Koller and play-maker Tomas Rosicky, providing the ideal start for Matthias Sammer's big spenders.
However, Amoroso declared: "I am not one of the Brazilians who dedicates all their goals to somebody else. First of all it was my effort and I worked very hard for them."
After barely surviving relegation following the departure of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld to Bayern Munich, Sammer, a former European footballer of the year, guided Dortmund back into the Champions' League last season with a third-place finish.
Amoroso, too, is looking to recapture better times. The former Brazilian footballer of the year - chosen ahead of the young Ronaldo - struggled to overcome a bad knee injury while still playing in his native country, but finally got his career back on track at Udinese, where he became Italy's top scorer in 1997.
His form earned him a Ł21.6 million move to Parma - then the third largest transfer fee in the world - and although Dortmund were interested at the time they baulked at the price.
The Parma public never saw the best of Amoroso, however, as ligament damage and other injuries ruled him out for several months and the move to Dortmund - which will see Ł10 million-rated winger Evanilson switch to Parma next year - is a gamble for all concerned.
"I know that the pressure is enormous here, the fans expect much from me and therefore I am glad that the first match went so well," Amoroso explained. "But people have to understand that I am not in my best form yet as I still have to get fully fit first."
Mint mondtam Amoroso elég magasra tette a lécet magának az első meccs alapján.Kiváncsi vagyok a folytatásra.
