Enrich: “We are a good team being united, as a family”

Sergi Enrich is the footballer who has played the most games in First division with the Eibar (160). The Menorcan forward, one of the captains, is going to complete his sixth season in Ipurua and it teaches the way to follow to the players who have just arrived to the Guipuzcoan First Division team. He has the full confidence of the coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar, why Sergi Enrich, a hard worker in the field, is an example as an athlete sacrificed for the team.

Last season (2019-2020) was marked by the coronavirus, which halted the competition for three months, and then forced to play a 'marathon' (the Eibar played 11 games in 5 weeks). COVID-19 has once again conditioned the league of First division, since the Barcelona footballers have only had 3 weeks of vacation, and as many of preseason. Everything has been on the run. The azulgranas will debut against Celta on Saturday (4pm) in Ipurua.

P. The preseason has been shorter than usual, 3 weeks. Was it enough to prepare for the competition?

R. After the long competition we had last season (2019-2020) due to COVID-19, in which in the end we had to play two games a week, we enjoyed a 3-week vacation, which has been very good for us . Although we have had little preparation in a mini-preseason different from the previous ones, the team has come with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. I see people very focused. I think these 3 weeks have been good for us.

The holidays were also shorter than normal, half the time. Did you get a full break on vacation or did you exercise more than usual to get into the mini-preseason fit?

I followed the work that Alain Gandiaga, Mikel Calvo and Toni Ruiz recommended for the holidays (referring to the physical trainers). We did not raise the intensity level too much, because last season was very long and the legs wanted to rest.

During the preseason he has not scored goals, but, at least, he has not been injured like last summer. How are you physically and mentally?

I am very excited and physically well. I have trained every day of the preseason, which I have not been able to achieve for a long time due to various physical ailments or injuries that I have suffered in recent years. I am very satisfied and happy about that. The important thing in a preseason is to pick up pace and, also, that the new people who have come (referring to the signings) and the kids who have helped us (the footballers of the subsidiary, CD Vitoria), are coupled to what the coach wants . In that we are. I think it was a good preseason. The most important thing is not to have had injuries, neither individually, nor collectively.

Eibar have lost fundamental players such as Orellana, Escalante, Ramis, Charles, De Blasis, Cristóforo … And on top of that José Ángel 'Cote' has been injured. How do you see the potential of the team with these losses?

It is true that there have been casualties, but not only now. With the current one, I have been at Eibar for 6 seasons and important players have left each year. But this club and this team are above any player. Nobody here is better than everyone together. We are a good team being united. I see the team united, a family. As a veteran of the club, I try to do so, a family and a united team.

At the moment, there are only two signings, the Polish Damian Kadzior and José Recio. How have you seen them in training? Are they available to play?

We have two signings. They have been training with us for a short time, a week. They have come with great enthusiasm, and it shows. You have to try to get them to fit in as quickly as possible, and to understand what the coach asks of them. I think everything will go well, because I see the team very united, and they are very excited.

What are you most afraid of, that there is another positive for coronavirus in the squad after the two this summer, or the Celta forwards with Iago Aspas at the helm?

The important thing is to focus on what is ours. Hopefully there won't be any more setbacks due to the COVID-19 issue. We are aware of how the pandemic is right now. We have to look for the club and the team, try to take care of ourselves. It is difficult, because even if you take care of yourself, you can catch it at any time. You have to be vigilant in that regard. On the other hand, Celta has a great team, with good forwards, such as Iago Aspas, Nolito … They are high-quality players. As always, they are going to make things difficult for us. But we are strong at home and we are looking forward to the start of the league.

Football continues to be played behind closed doors, without fans. That hurt them last season at home, but it benefited them as visitors. Will this campaign repeat itself?

I tell the fans that it is bad luck not to be able to count on them in our fort in Ipurua. They are very important to us. I've always said it, even if the fans are few, they always cheer us on. The few who go to Ipurua stand out and cheer us on, through thick and thin. Both last season and the current one, it is going to be a major loss. We will try to ensure that the fans who see us from their homes are satisfied with the work we are going to do in the field. We know that they will support us.

What message has Mendilibar transmitted to you for the start of the competition, which is already imminent?

It tells us that we should try to be brave. We have had a very clear idea of ​​the game for a long time, and we have done well in recent years. We have things clear. The coach is working with the newcomers to adapt as soon as possible.

What Celta does he expect on Saturday?

Celta suffered more than normal last season, because all their players are of a high quality and aspired to be much higher in the standings. Now we begin a different campaign, there are renewed energies. For me, Celta is a great player in the league, both as a club and because of the players they have. We must be very careful, because it is going to be a team that wants to dominate the ball from behind. Although that type of rivals is good for us. We will go out for them, to play our game.

What game do you expect? Will we see an aggressive Eibar?

Celta will try to carry the weight of the match starting from behind, with long possessions. But we are going to go out to 'bite', to press up, as always. Let it be noted that we are very excited this season, with the intensity that the coach wants and that we cannot miss. If we do what the coach tells us, with the illusion of a new campaign and that intensity that we always try to use, a good game will come out.