Bacca: "We want to play in the Champions League"

The mentality of Carlos Arturo Bacca (1986, Colombia) is to improve day upon day. Maybe this is the secret of the success that seen him raise the bar this season. Now he is confident of maintaining his blistering form with Sevilla FC and seeing them into the UEFA Champions League. This is his dream for the New Year.

LFP.es: How would you evaluate 2014?
Bacca: I'm very happy with the way the side is playing. We're collectively strong and having a great season on all fronts. I also feel good as an individual, because I'm playing against great players of a world-class level like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are from another planet, and I’m able to battle it out with them.

LFP.es: Last season you scored 14 goals in Liga BBVA and you've got 10 so far this time round. Have you set yourself a target for this season?
Bacca: My personal objective is to beat last season's tally. I've got 10 right now and hopefully I can beat that while the side keeps up its level of play.

"Our competition is Valencia, Villarreal and Celta"

LFP.es: On a collective level, is the objective to get into the Champions League?
Bacca: More than an objective, it's a dream. We have a competitive dressing room, a boss who knows us all well and a set of fans that drives us on. For this we always want to improve on what we did in 2014, but to do so we must work hard, because this year there is a lot of competition from sides such as Valencia, Celta and Villarreal. We will keep our humility and, with the help of god and our own strength, keep getting good results.

LFP.es: Sevilla started strong, and they’re up towards the top of the table with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Are they your rivals or do you think they’re more the aforementioned sides?
Bacca: It's very hard to compete with Madrid and Barcelona. We know how good they are in every sense. Out competition could be described as Valencia, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Celta. Although, we always want to do our best when we play the biggest sides.

LFP.es: When you played for Club Brugge you said your goal was to play in Spain one day. What do you dream of next?
Bacca: I always dreamed about coming to the best league in the world, a competitive place with the chance to play against the best. Now the idea is to give my best, score as many as possible, work hard for Sevilla and keep the side up at the top, because playing in the Champions League would be a dream. We will work hard to achieve it.

"For a forward it is brilliant to have the likes of Denis Suárez and Deulofeu playing behind you"

LFP.es: The fans chose you as the best South American player of last season.
Bacca: This individual prize is from a base of collective work at Sevilla. I was against some top players in Filipe Luis, Diego Costa, Ángel Di Maria, Neymar Jr. and Messi and I'm delighted that the fans saw what I brought and chose me.

LFP.es: How is it to play with two of the brightest young talent around in Denis Suárez y Deulofeu?
Bacca: It's brilliant for a forward to have quality player behind you. Above all, they're both young but have a lot of experience. Both Gerard and Denis have adapted very well to the side and they are playing at their bet. They will improve and they show their desire to do so on a daily basis.

"I knew that James was ready for the big challenge at Real Madrid"

LFP.es: In addition to football, what else do you like about Seville?
Bacca: I enjoy the city. The most important thing is that my family is happy in Seville and that helps me work harder everyday.

LFP.es: What do you make of your compatriot James Rodríguez? Did you expect him to grow like this?
Bacca: To play for Real Madrid is a big responsibility, but he has everything to succeed there. I knew he was ready for the challenge because he is very ambitious and never settles for second best. He always wants to improve. He is showing his worth in every game and I’m very happy for him.