Dani Rodríguez says his time in red and black has been the best of his career as our midfielder reflects on seven years at the club.
Find out what Dani had to say about the team, his scoring record and the international break.
Question: Seven consecutive seasons in a row scoring.... how do you feel?
Answer: The truth is that I am very happy and content for what you have said, for all these seasons. Not only for scoring, but for everything I have experienced. In football, being in a team for so many years is very complicated and when you find that place where you are happy, everything goes a little bit hand in hand. I'm very proud of myself, of all the work I've done throughout my career…and the truth is that I'm very happy with this stage, which is the most beautiful and wonderful of my career.
Q: What is the secret?
A: I know what I do on a daily basis. I know how I take care of myself, I know that I push everything to the limit and the truth is that I am not surprised because I have always had a lot of faith in myself. It's true that my path has been a bit bumpy and hilly, but I had a lot of faith in my work and in the end that work has been rewarded.
Q: What is the goal you remember most fondly?
A: Well, I could tell you the one in the cup final, but maybe it was a bit bitter because of how it happened. It was a very special moment. The first one in LaLiga, against Eibar, for me it was... how can I explain it to you in words? It was like... like fury and saying: ‘I've been waiting for this moment for so long and here I am’.
Q: Talking about the team, how did the break go?
A: We wanted to play a great game in Madrid and I think we did. It was important to go into the break with a win because it relaxes everything a bit and makes you work much better, have more confidence in what you do... I think things are going well. It's a new project, a new way of playing and I think that with everything that's coming up now, with the curves, that victory was important. I'm looking forward to Saturday because the internationals are still playing, but we stop in the middle of the season and you always want to keep playing. At least I'm always looking forward to playing.
Q: How is the team facing what's ahead?
A: The important thing is to be strong at home, which I think is one of the keys to achieving our objective. Now we have a very complicated match because they have a great team, they are playing very well, I think they are unbeaten and we know how difficult it is, but at home we have to go for any opponent.