The 24-year old striker has spent his whole life at the training ground, and took a look back on his time in the academy: "I remember those trips with my mother, she was the one who brought me. So many categories and so many moments, because all that is very long, with difficult times and injuries. Everything is necessary and I think that the Carlos Fernández from a few years ago has nothing to do with either the footballing or personal aspect of today's Carlos Fernández".
That journey was not free from complications: "When on the journey adversities of all kinds arise, and not just sporting ones, with injuries that make you have doubts about the future, I am always a person who has tried to live in the present and not think beyond it. I'm preparing myself for what is yet to come but enjoying today. The present now is Sevilla, I am happy to be able to enjoy each day and I try to increase my level to be prepared and, when it is my turn, to talk on the pitch".
"In bad times, such as injuries, I've always tried to live in the present"
He then focused on his family surroundings, without which he says he would not have achieved so much: "There are many moments, mainly when I was younger. My parents put their life aside so I could be happy. As the years went by, when little by little it seemed that things were moving in the right direction, people began to arrive in my life to whom I will always be grateful and who together form a wonderful team. We're ready to live every good moment when they come. I'm proud of the parents I have, and I'm proud of having coincided with these people on the journey".
He can't hide his love for the club, neither now nor when he left on loan: "There's two versions of Carlos Fernández. One is a fan, who has been a Sevilla season ticket holder all his life and went to the stadium with his parents. Then there's the professional who wants to play and give his best, the two go together a bit. There's the desire of the footballer and then the desire to do it at home, that's the fan. If you ask any academy graduate this question, he will say the same thing, and if he is successful here, even better".
"Once the window was shut it was time to reset, focus and get into good shape physically"
The striker knows how difficult it is for an academy graduate to get a place in the team, but he understands it: "In recent years, I think Sevilla have demonstrated that they're amongst the best in Europe and they have huge demands. The process for an academy player is tough and even more so in the last stage. But he is ready to find other paths if it can't be here. The club always tries to have the best, so an academy player who hasn't finished maturing has to find other ways, like I had to go on loan to Deportivo and Granada".
After a tough summer mentally, once the window had closed it was time to focus his energies: "It's a process, adapting and coming back after what happened in the summer. It's tough to have your head in the same place, but once everything has passed, it was time to get into good shape physically, absorb everything the manager asks so you can help the team, and give my best performance when he thinks it's time. I'm happy with coming off the bench but I want more and I have to keep improving in each training session. We are working on it".
"The number 16 is special, but the way he's going, I'll retire before Jesús Navas"
He said that the manager is not the type to harass the footballer: "Julen is a natural and normal person. He is close to people and likes to be close to the player, but then he doesn't talk beyond that. We talk about football, about the games to come... It is a good thing that there are so many of us and there is so much competition, because with so many games we are going to need everyone and there is a great team to face the challenges that lie ahead". He also spoke about the number 16 shirt, which is currently in safe hands: "As an academy player, I know what the number 16 is for this club and the important thing is that it has been and continues to be the figure of Antonio for so many kids, who dream of doing what he did. Jesús wears it now and the way he's going, I think I'll retire before him, so it'll be tough. But although I don't wear it, I really know what it means. I think Jesús honours it very well".
To finish, he spoke about the fans: "The fans have to be happy with having another academy graduate in the first team, who will give it his all, who would die in every match to defend the Sevilla shirt, as the Sevillista he is and as they would do. We will try to give them a lot of joy, make sure this season is very nice and that, even if it is from a distance because of the situation we are living in, we can have many good things this year".
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대한민국 - Soon
