At 33 years old, Sergio Canales is living a sweet moment in Rayados de Monterrey. The Cantabrian has taken a step forward in the scoring aspect and has finished the regular season as the top scorer in the Liga MX with 15 goals (7 in the Clausura and 8 in the Apertura). A creative explosion that he attributes to several factors, admitting that he has worked on it.
“I am very happy, especially because this is something that has never happened to me given my position, but I am happy to contribute to the team in this aspect. Admittedly, I have been trying to improve in this area for a while and things are going well. I think this is also part of the entire team’s effort.; “All the work done to get the ball to those areas is crucial, and we have improved significantly in this aspect and we continue to grow as well,” he said in an interview in Halftime.
Furthermore, the Santander footballer emphasized the differences between his current role on the field and the one he assumed with the green and white shirt, with which his scoring production was lower (39 goals in 207 games). “My situation on the field here is very different from the one I had at Betis. At Betis, he had a lot of responsibility in distributing the ball, he had different responsibilities in creating the game, carrying the weight of the team’s execution. Here, I am more vertical; It’s something I’ve grown a lot in. Coming here has been great to experience another style of play that I am capable of doingshoot from outside the area and generate more opportunities. “I don’t think it’s fair to compare a style of play with what I’m doing now,” he explained.
“It doesn’t cross my mind”
In addition, the former Spanish international was also questioned about the news that emerged weeks ago about a possible return to the La Palmera club, which he himself already clarified, since he does not close that door for the future, although it is not part of his immediate plans nor in those of the Betic entity. Thus, he was categorical in ruling out an exit. “I am very happy here; Contemplating something other than being here as we head to the Liguilla doesn’t even cross my mind. The important thing is that I am happy; I feel lucky; I tell everyone that I belong to this club, to come to this city and meet amazing people. I want to continue experimenting and improving here“he highlighted.
He feels that he has taken “a step forward” in his career and wants to be a “champion”
Besides, Canales has no doubt that he made the best decision upon leaving Betis in the summer of 2023, as he considered that his cycle under Pellegrini had already ended. “It has been great, truly happy. It has exceeded my expectations; I have met wonderful people and my family and I are very grateful for all the treatment we have received. We have been living a unique experience and I am grateful to football for giving me the opportunity to come to this wonderful country, to experience a very different style of football that has helped me grow as a player and as a person. In the end, what I’m looking for is to continue growing and improving every day, and Coming here was, for many who find it hard to believe, a step forward to feel like a better player“, he stated when evaluating his stay in the Aztec team.
In this way, your five senses are already put into play. Apertura 2024 Leaguewhich he faces with maximum ambition. “Obviously, I want to be champion. The team wants to be champions and we work hard to be champions and give that to the club and the fans who deserve it,” he said.