BACCA: "THE UNITY, STRENGTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE DRESSING ROOM WERE PART OF THE SUCCESSES"

27/05/2020

The Colombian remembers that night against Dnipro in Warsaw five years on

Carlos Bacca featured on SFC Radio today, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the fourth Europa League win in Warsaw, a match which the Colombian international will always remember: "I've got it saved in my mind and my heart. I remember the build-up, the goals, the moments of tension, the return to Sevilla... it's something very nice that stays with you forever".

Looking back over the final and its highlights, the striker recalled the figure of Jose Antonio Reyes, with the man from Utrera allowing the striker to equalise with a sensational through ball: "With Reyes we understood each other very well. He was always looking ahead, and I send my love and a big hug to the family. He was one of the people who helped me with his joy when I arrived in Sevilla. He received the ball and looked at the forwards, that night was special with that perfect pass to score a nice goal". Then in the closing stages of the second half, he had the opportunity to break the deadlock and put the Nervionenses in front: "The ball fell to us and I managed to score a good goal with my left foot which gave us a 3-2 lead in the final that gave us the title. It was a joy to enjoy that moment, every time I get the chance to watch the final it fills me with joy.

With the happiness of scoring in a final and seeing his family's faces and those of the Sevilla fans, he also remembered the celebration of his second goal: "Where the Sevilla fans were, my family, wife and kids, they threw a Colombia flag at me and it was even nicer. It fills you with satisfaction knowing a goal gives people immense happiness. Those moments you dream of, but when you experience them it's a different moment".

"With Reyes we understood each other very well"

Carlos Bacca stopped to analyse his sporting career, fulfilling his dream of featuring in one of the magical nights that will remain in the history of Sevilla FC: "The beginnings were not easy, you know I come from a humble family. I fell in love with football and I dreamt of enjoying it, but nowadays I keep on getting up with excitement and desire to train. When Emery took me off that day for Gameiro, a lot of things came to mind, like my family, my parents, my wife, the people who helped me... I imagined a lot of things. These are feelings that have to be lived. I just said in my mind thank you, God, because without you this wouldn't have happened...everything I had worked for since I was a child had materialised in a final. And that's because, although I already had the opportunity to play the previous one, in this one I had the chance to be the hero.

Afterwards, the striker was questioned about the keys to the success, something in which he agrees with the other heroes who have been remembering different events of the glorious white-red May, his praise of Unai Emery: "The key of Sevilla has always been its people, the passion with which the football is lived there. We had the best manager, a man who lives with passion and who gives 100% for everything, who does not rest, pays attention to the minimum details and working 25 hours for football...the colleagues who arrived understood from the beginning what Sevilla and Sevillismo is, you always have to give everything with class and courage. The unity, strength and happiness were part of the successes".

"We had the best manager, a man who lives with passion and who gives 100% for everything"

Convinced by God that he was going to live a great night in the National Stadium in Warsaw, he did not hesitate to acknowledge that his time in Sevilla was the best he has ever experienced: "I enjoyed it both on the pitch and off it. I moved to a big club like Milan, but it wasn't the same as playing for Sevilla. At Villarreal I started well but now I am not playing and, with that combination, I'd say that the two years at Sevilla are the greatest ones I have experienced. I hope to keep on giving my best in order to keep on enjoying football". As he brought the interview to a close, besides thanking the club and the fans for their affection, he spoke about the tie he has to the city of Sevilla: "They were two very nice years with two Europa League trophies. I have great friends inside and outside the club, I enjoy it every time I can go to Sevilla, my children grew up there and they have friends in the Sevilla academy. It's been part of my life and my heart and I hope to continue enjoying it".