Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca admits Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo “are in a league of their own” when it comes to the race to be crowned La Liga’s top goalscorer.
Real Madrid star Ronaldo currently tops the Pichichi charts with 38 goals from 28 appearances, four ahead of Messi, with third-placed Neymar way back on 18.
Messi & Ronaldo in a league of their own – Bacca
Bacca is pleased with his own haul of 17 goals in 31 games, which has helped propel Sevilla into the top-four race, but concedes that it is unlikely any player will be able to catch the world’s most lethal attackers.
“I’m happy to have contributed with 17 goals in such a competitive championship but the fight between Messi and Cristiano is in a league of its own,” he told Goal in an exclusive interview.
“Neymar and [Antoine] Griezmann are above me but they are at big teams like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. We have to appreciate the work that is being done in a big team like Sevilla.
“Reaching the Champions League has been our hope from the beginning of the season and we are not going to hide it. There are a few games left and we still have a chance.
“Of course the ambition will increase but we have to keep our feet on the ground because we are competing against two big teams like Atletico Madrid and Valencia. But we are three points behind and we will not give up.”
Sevilla lifted the Europa League trophy last season and have continued to challenge the best in Spain in 2014-15 under the guidance of Unai Emery.
Bacca admits the coach’s insatiable appetite for the game can get on the nerves of players but feels his own personality makes the duo a perfect match.
“Unai Emery is a coach who never relaxes and always tries to get the best performances from both me and my colleagues,” said the Colombia international. “That forms the team’s success.
“We drew at Barcelona and the next day he was already working to focus our minds on Zenit. He is a tireless person, which can be annoying for a player but that is the basis of his success.
“I am a nonconformist. Thank goodness I work with this mentality every day to give my best performances.”