James Rodriguez says he's happy at Bayern Munich and has vowed the German giants want to win "everything" in the upcoming season after falling short in the Champions League and German Cup last term.
"In a big club, you always want to win titles. Bayern is a big club, which always looks for titles, like league, [German] Cup, Champions [League]," James said in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "In the last season in the Cup we were there, in the Champions League [we were] in semis, too, but for bad luck we were out. But this year we want everything."
Bayern reached the semifinals of the Champions League but crashed out to eventual champion Real Madrid after seeing costly errors doom them over the two legs.
Asked by ESPN's Carolina Padron what it will take for Bayern to reach the next level, the 27-year-old was frank.
"Last season we lacked luck, too," James said, before being asked if the referees had played a part. "Yes, but not all the fault is theirs. I believe when you want to win the Champions [League] you have to do everything right. The one who makes fewer mistakes wins and the one who plays well wins.
"We have to be fine because there are big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, many, so I think you have to make play well in the Champions League in order to win."
If Bayern are to reach their first final in the competition since 2013, they will do so under new coach Niko Kovac, who took over for Jupp Heynckes this summer after a successful three-year spell at Frankfurt.
James, who was with Colombia for the World Cup this summer, says he's "eager" to get started -- and meet his new boss.
"When he comes back, I think I'll have contact with him, and let's see what ideas he has for everyone," the former Real Madrid and Monaco man said
Kovac, whose side beat Bayern in the German Cup final this spring, has previously said he is counting on the midfielder -- who is on loan from Madrid -- for next season. And James, who has been a subject of recent transfer rumours, spoke about the comfort he has at the club.
Asked if he wants a long-term contract with the German champs, he said: "It's a club that has treated me well, that has trusted me -- I'm happy here."
He may be happy at Bayern, but James had a disappointing World Cup in Russia. After not starting the opening match, he picked up a calf injury that kept him out of the majority of Colombia's round-of-16 win and all of the quarterfinal loss against England.
The match with the Three Lions was a contentious affair that was ultimately decided on penalties. Had Colombia triumphed, it would have placed the South Americans in their first-ever semifinal, but it was not to be.
"We almost did it," James said about his expectations for the World Cup. "I think we are always there; I think something is always missing. For the next four years we must see where we failed and must be able to reverse all this in four years to be OK."
Colombia have reached the quarterfinals in back-to-back editions of the Cup thanks in large part to the work of Jose Pekerman, whose future remains uncertain with the national team.
Asked about rumours that former Mexico boss Juan Carlos Osorio could take the reins, James said: "I do not know. It's a topic, even when something is not given, I cannot speak about at all. For now the 'Profe' is still ours -- I cannot comment on other coaches."