Checking in with Sevilla's Brazilian stud Daniel Alves

	Right back Daniel Alves (left) has been the anchor of the Sevilla defense during the club's surprise run for the Spanish title. Denis Doyle/Getty Images
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The surprise team of Europe? Easy. It's Sevilla FC. The Andalusian powerhouse may have missed out on a fabulous opportunity to take back first place in La Liga last Sunday, but the Sevillistas are still a serious threat to win their first Spanish championship in more than 60 years, beating out perennial powers Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia.

Sevilla's hard-working squad has top-to-bottom quality, but Brazilian defender Daniel Alves is the standout. He has been outstanding this season, following up on a campaign in which he won MVP on the way to Sevilla's shock UEFA Cup title, the team's first-ever European hardware.

But the 23-year-old isn't sitting back on those achievements -- he wants more, and is eager to keep proving himself with the Brazilian national team. Widely regarded the best right back in the world, he's destined for greater things. I recently caught up with the acclaimed Brazilian a few days before Sevilla's must-win UEFA Cup match against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk.

SI.com: Sevilla is having an outstanding season. What have been the club's main strengths?

Daniel Alves: I think the work we put in. The team plays well as a unit. We never sit back, and always try to go forward. We have good players, but the most positive thing is that our fans are right behind us. Everyone at the club is behind us, and this helps us play better.

SI.com: Do you have what it takes to win the league?

Daniel Alves: The championship is clearly there to be won. We are definitely going to fight for it. We have some tough matches coming up against Real Madrid and Valencia, both away from home. We are well aware that we have a good opportunity to win the league. We are the leaders of the competition, and hopefully we can win it.

SI.com: Sevilla has been a big surprise the last couple of seasons. What has the club done differently compared to in the past?

Daniel Alves: I think the club has grown a lot. We won our first international title last year, and it had been a long time since the club last won a trophy. We have improved enormously, and must keep growing. This season we have been very consistent. Hopefully we can win the league title. I think that'll be the icing on the cake.

SI.com: Many consider you the best right back in the world at the moment. Did you expect this recognition so early on in your career?

Daniel Alves: You never expect that kind of recognition. I'm very happy. Things have turned out very positively for me, and I hope to continue to make the most of it. I try to improve every day, and hopefully I can continue to live up to the reputation I have already made.