Despite being a more than established player, he still has the competitive edge at a club that is constantly moving forward: "Sevilla are growing more and more every year. There's more demands, there's more competition for places in the squad and I'm very happy to be part of this growth. I hope to keep playing well on the pitch and I hope that Sevilla continues to be in the top four". He also spoke fondly about the city: "Sevilla is a very pretty city, the people are very nice. We are very happy living here and we hope to keep living well. I'm feeling good on both a personal and professional level, so we're very happy".
He even had no doubts when asked about his time at Sevilla compared to his career: "I think I'm enjoying the best form of my career. With my experience, the team we have, the players, I also think Julen Lopetegui has been the most important coach in my career and I'm enjoying it a lot, I'm very grateful to him for everything. I know that when I arrived here, aged 32, there were genuine misgivings because I joined from a league that's less competitive than LaLiga. I thought that I could do very well, and I think that I am doing that. Now when I'm out on the street, I see the Sevilla fans' faces and they're all happy with my work on the pitch, so that means I'm happy too".
"When I'm out on the street, I see that Sevilla fans are happy with my work"
He accepts that scoring goals is his not his main role, but he knows which of his seven goals for the club is his favourite: "My role on the pitch is to keep the team balanced, try to have as much of the ball as possible and make good passes. For me, it's quite rare to score but it makes me very happy. I think the goal that stands out most in my life, the goal that made me happiest was the goal in the derby, it made people very happy". Regarding a possible contract extension in the future, it's clear that he will be trying his hardest: "I'll work hard, I know that I have to maintain my level here. I've got two years here, it will be very difficult but I'll work hard for it, hopefully in the future we can talk about another contract extension". The Octopus also believes he is continuing to grow: "I think I'm playing the same, but I'm so happy to be here in Sevilla that maybe I've got another tentacle".
"It will be difficult, but I'll work hard and hopefully we can talk about another contract extension"
One thing that he did have doubts about was his best moment at the club, excluding the Europa League Final win in Cologne, of course: "You've taken the best moment away from me, but I think I've had some very good moments here. This is my third season and the last two years were spectacular. I'll go with those two years, because we had spectacular moments. I think I need to win more titles. I think we're playing and competing well, and establishing ourselves in the top four. We have to win titles and that's what I'm looking for every day". He also commented on the dressing room: "I feel like another player in the squad. Even though I'm 34, I learn something new every day. I'm happy being here with all the lads, both those who are from the academy and the older players too. I'm having a good time, I try to help the others with my experience and I try to learn from them too. All of us are experiencing a great moment".
He also shares the captaincy with two club legends in Navas and Rakitic: "It means a lot because it's not easy to be captain alongside Ivan and Jesús at a club like Sevilla. Those players have a lovely story at the club and I hope to be on the same level in the future, winning trophies". To finish, a message for the fans: "I'm very happy, I'm having a very good time at the moment, on a personal and professional level. I'm sure the Sevillistas are happy with me because every time I step onto the pitch, I'm always representing every Sevillista". Every time I can play and think about them, I play better and try to win titles, because I know that Sevilla fans want to celebrate winning titles".
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