-He looks particularly fit. Are you physically well?
-I feel very good, I worked during the summer and that is appreciated when starting preseason. I have a degree in Physical Education, so I can focus on some training to stay in shape.
-And you're already 33.
-If you're 33 and don't have enthusiasm, it's better to quit. I really enjoy what I do and I want to once again experience playing in the top division.
-Do you feel the effects of getting older?
-Physically, I believe I'm in better shape than when I was 23. You learn to know your body, to understand what you need, take better care of yourself, and be more strict. You don't have to look at the ID, but at the performance. Last year, Ruben, at 34, and I had better stats than five years ago when we arrived.
-Your second half of last year was incredible.
-I played very little in the first part of the season and in the second half, I scored 17 goals, almost one per match because I also missed some games.
-Do you understand why the club, having Ruben, Rennella, and you, is looking for another forward?
-In these five years, Betis has not lacked goals, although the coach and the sporting director will know that the better players they bring in, the better for the team.
-There is also talk about the need for wingers.
-As forwards, having a fast player on the wing benefits us because it helps keep the defenses unorganized if the ball is moved quickly. We have quality players there, but they have a different profile, and throughout the season, other things may be needed.
-How do you get along so well, both personally and professionally, with Ruben? You seem completely different...
-Opposites attract, maybe that's why we get along so well. Ruben is very talented and a great guy, and he makes everything easy, both playing and daily living. And we're friends, which is important.
-Do you have more or less enthusiasm than five years ago?
-People have seen that in the end, we always score a lot of goals and we still have a lot of enthusiasm. Ruben is already the top scorer and I want to surpass more players in that ranking. One never thinks they will be among the top five or six goal scorers in such a great club like Betis.
-It seems like the team is still lacking something. Is it worrisome?
-The new players are realizing the dimension of the club and others are also adapting. We want to build a good team. We have a tough start to the league and we're already thinking about Villarreal.
-And then the second game is against Real Madrid.
-I have played three games at the Bernabeu and scored in all three. I hope that streak continues, or that Ruben finally scores and it counts this time.
-Are you still willing to play more as an attacking midfielder than as a pure forward?
-Since I started doing that job of dropping back and playing for the team, I feel good. I started doing it the year we qualified for Europe, and when we got relegated to the second division, I barely played, just like at the beginning of last season. With Mel, I played a little more as a connector, linking up with the wingers, providing an outlet. I like it.
-Some people didn't see you in that position.
-Aesthetically, I'm not Messi, they see me as big and think I can't do that job. In the end, the difficult thing in football is to make it easy. Eleven players play this game, and you have to make it as simple as possible for your teammates.
-How is your contract renewal going? It's not finalized yet, right?
-More than talking about the renewal, we talked about the compensation that was promised to me. Other people have come to the club, the president is a man of his word, and I trust him. I'm delighted here. The fans show me their affection, and that's important.
-Meanwhile, the fans keep responding.
-Before coming, you know that Betis is a great club, but until you land here, you don't really see the dimension it has. Having 40,000 people sing the anthem a cappella is something very beautiful. Having so many people in the stadium gives you an extra boost.