BONO: 'A TEAM LIKE SEVILLA ALWAYS HAS TO AIM FOR MORE'

As could be expected, he was asked about the competition with his new teammate, Marko Dmitrović: 'I'm motivated to keep growing and improving as a goalkeeper, as a person and as a player in this group. And to achieve even bigger goals than last season. Competition is always positive for the group - it helps the team grow and improve. It's a bonus for the Club. With Marko there'll be tough competition and we will both give our best. He is a great 'keeper, left footed, which helps us with how we play out from the back as I also am left-footed. A team like Sevilla, that wants to achieve great things, needs this competition.'

He insists both are starting from zero: 'As I said on the day I came to the Club, I've never felt like a starter or a substitute. I work for the Club and do my job as best I can and do what I'm told. I isolate myself from the positive or negative. I usually live in my own world and I focus on me and what I can do to improve, analysing what I need and what the team needs from me. No matter how many good performances I've put in or trophies I may have helped Sevilla win, the goalkeeping spot at this Club doesn't belong to me. What does belong to me are my goals and dreams. I will follow my path and I am ready for what the coach and Club has to ask of me.'

'Ever since my arrival, I've never felt like a starter or substitute'

Far from hiding from pressure, the North African goalkeeper made it clear that he wants more this season: 'A team like this has to always aim for more, pursuing ever bigger goals. I think this team has no limit - last season we showed we can fight for the title and in the last ten games we must have been either first or second in terms of results with how many games we won. It's a long path and it won't be easy, but the team is gaining confidence, experience, and belief in what we can achieve. It's not easy to see a target and immediately believe in it but when you add confidence and hard work you can achieve great things. In these situations, sometimes you can even be scared of saying you want to fight for the league. I think the team will go for me and we feel we need to improve on fourth place.'

There is a big chance he will be called up for AFCON duties in Cameroon in January, but at the moment Bono is focusing on the present: 'It does hurt those of us who play in European leagues, but it is what it is. We have a duty for our country and it's always amazing to represent your nation. January is a while away yet and what matters now is starting the season well, being where we want to be and when January comes around we'll see what happens.'

'The AFCON being in January is a hindrance but we have a duty to our country'

Asked about his compatriot Youssef En-Nesyri, Bono said the forward wants to keep improving in Seville: 'He wants to stay at the Club and he is committed. He has offers to leave and earn more, but he wants to be here and improve. We need players like that at the Club. He gives us more. With Luuk we have a great reference point, and with Youssef we can play into spaces more and that gives us variety, not to mention how good they are in the box. He has room to grow and that is exciting for the team.'

Finishing up, he spoke of how he hopes to see the fans soon: 'It will be great because it's been a year and a half without them and they're so important for the team with the push they give us. I hope we can see them soon.'