DIEGO CARLOS: "100 GAMES IS HISTORIC AND I WILL REMEMBER IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE"

On reaching 100 games, he did not hide his happiness. "I am happy because of the 100 games for the club. I really felt it in my heart and that I am doing good things, dedicating myself and doing my best for the club." Although he reached this figure with a defeat, he is sure that the team remains on track. "Fans and friends always tell me things and they told me about the 100 games, it is a historical moment for me and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I like everything that we are doing this season. 100 games is very important and gratifying but I remember my whole story with the club and not with the one game that reached this milestone." In the same way he indicated that this all means a lot for him. "To play is everything. There are games in which I want to play and I can't, dealing with a challenge that all footballers want to overcome and I am happy because of this. I think that I did something good not only for me but for the club. In my first game against Espanyol I recall it was a very important victory for me with Dani Carriço as a team mate in defence and replacing Koundé because I went out there with some discomfort as a result of the stress and different time as well."

"I remember my whole story with the club and not just the one game that reached this milestone"

And when talking about the French central defender, as well as the defensive unit that they both form with his compatriot Fernando, he highlighted the good understanding that exists between them: "Koundé, Fernando and myself understand each other very well on the pitch and we are each getting better. I think that we are one of the best defences in LaLiga together with Vilarreal, but we always have to improve because we are not perfect, and we are ready to do that for the club and for ourselves. The key principle for our understanding is that we know each other very well and we know the decision that will be taken by each of us on the pitch, covering it well and many times taking the ball out with ease, being the main thing for us to defend but then later to attack, for this reason many teams struggle to score against us."

The Brazilian, who also replied to questions from fans who followed the interview through social media, given the traits of the changing room, they all referenced themselves from the same place and have maximum respect for the captains. "I have a lot of respect for the players and especially our captains. At Sevilla we are all captains, everybody has the right to speak in the changing room to increase competitiveness, something that helps us to beat teams. We are all one." At the same time reaching 100 games means that he feels loved by the club and the fans, with the desire to complete the objectives. "We have an objective which is to get into the Champions League and that is our focus. The competition is very difficult, and we know that the other teams have many footballers and many big teams have had difficulties trying to win this weekend. In LaLiga we continue with the same hunger, the defeat on Sunday happens in football, and we don't want to lose a game like this, and it hurt a lot, but we are all thinking about the mental recovery to reach the next game in the best possible conditions." Also, there was time to talk about Lopetegui, who was thanked by Diego Carlos for the confidence he had given him along with the other coaches. "I am very happy with the faith of the coach and his staff because I always work to do the best for the team. If I help my team mates to be happy, I am a very competitive player, Julen, after the games always comes to speak to me and tells me that we are good, but the criticisms always make be improve."

"Fans are the main part of football because without them in the stadium it isn't the same" 

After 100 games the Brazilian defender, checked first-hand the appearance numbers of his fellow compatriots who have played for Sevilla, being the player with the sixth highest number of games. "The numbers sound very nice. The majority of Brazilians are very well remember Alves has Sevilla in his heart, and I remember his words towards me as well. To reach these number has taken many years although I have had a contract to reach this."

Before finishing he referenced once more the return of fans to the Sánchez-Pizjuán. "When we played without fans it was a very sad atmosphere because opponents could understand us more easily and communication was free flowing but listening now to the fans is totally different, we feel their warmth and very good energy. Fans are the main part of football because without them in the stadium it isn't the same." To close he spoke about his personal objectives once again referencing the Champions League. "I want to help the club to go as far as possible in the Champions League but in this competition all the teams are very good, and we are prepared to overcome any challenges. And he also wanted to highlight his best moment in all of his time so far "In 100 games I remember the bicycle kick to win the Europa League title and I don't want remember a worst game because I always try to do my best for the team."