ACUÑA: "I THINK PEOPLE CAN SEE I ALWAYS GIVE IT MY ALL ON THE PITCH"

Marcos Acuña isn't a man of many headlines. He often does his talking on the pitch but, on the day of signing a contract that will keep him at the club until 2025, the Argentine sat down to speak about his year and a half at the club. He began by discussing what the new deal means for him: "It means a lot, the effort, how they value what I do... I always try to give my best and I think the results are there for all to see. I'm really happy with the new deal." He then spoke about how happy his family are in Seville, and they have even added a new member to the Acuña clan: "We're really happy. We were in Lisbon for three years and moving here to Seville was a challenge. We know what the city was like and we've all adapted really well. My family are really happy here."

Asked about his goals here, Marcos was in no doubt: "My dream is to achieve the goals we have set ourselves. We have to keep fighting for everything and I think we'll get a title our effort deserves, God willing." Acuña would naturally be delighted personally, but he would be even happier for the group: "We're a family here, a united group of friends and brothers on the pitch. We are all brothers at the cub and I felt that during pre-season." As it would be expected, Acuña feels there is a great deal of support from his fellow countrymen: "I am always with them but it's because we are from Argentina and we have that desire of bringing ourselves together for a drink and chat. It's amazing and it helps you day by day."

Marcos didn't shy away from talk about reaching the top sporting heights: "In terms of objectives, we have so many. We are up there in LaLiga and we want to keep fighting until the end. To be able to achieve great things is what will make the club grow as one." Marcos also commented on the love he feels from the fans: "I think they've seen I always give it my all, I always give 100% and I don't hold anything back." His efforts have helped along the way to becoming a South American champion: "You always dream of that, firstly getting called up, it's what every player dreams of. Acuña now has a strong feeling of pride, having been crowned a champion. After 28 years of failing to lift the Copa América, it was an immense feeling of happiness." 

As well as being a top footballer, above all, Acuña is seen as a humble human being: "I think the majority of people think without knowing what is going on in someone else's life. Being a footballer isn't easy. Everyone thinks that once you're at the top, you have everything and problems are non-existent. But everyone has problems and sometimes taking them onto the pitch with you helps and sometimes it doesn't. However, Acuña focuses on his good moments: "I've experienced so many thrills at Sevilla, but I am going to single two out. On the day that I first put the shirt on, I knew that I was happy and in love. Then it has to be the goal in the derby because scoring in a game like this is the stuff of dreams." A derby that Acuña will experience for the first time in front of a home crowd shortly: "It's the same feeling you have up in the stands in Argentina. They share the same passion and that's what makes you get up and play your best. We feel the support. It surprised me so much and it's brilliant."