Promotion will not be easy - José Enrique

Sep 26 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Enrique is keen to reassure us it is not. “Newcastle are a big team in there, one of the best,” he said. “But in this division any team can beat any team.

“We thought we would win at Blackpool before the game, but we didn’t and look at all of the little teams in the Carling Cup this week who did well against big teams.

“If we play together as a team we can get out of this division. The reaction at places like Blackpool is not friendly, it’s all about three points. It’s the same at Wigan or Manchester United as well though.

“It has been difficult to accept that I’m a Championship player, but we are there for a reason. It’s our fault, not the club’s or the fans. We are to blame. Last year was not good enough, I made mistakes, everyone did. We need to get back to the Premier League – and that is up to us.”

Newcastle United have had plenty of problems in the last 12 months, but only one of them has ever given Enrique a restless night and it has nothing do with Kevin Keegan.

Keegan never fancied him as player and it is doubtful the former Villarreal prospect would have survived had Keegan not began a journey which ended at a Premier League tribunal hearing this week.

But Enrique does not worry about the view of a former manager, just as he does not concern himself with takeover talk or criticism of the Mike Ashley regime. Results are all that matter.

He explained: “All the things that are going on with the president, I have said all along that this is not a problem for the players, it’s a problem for the club.

“All of the players here have a contract and I have three years left on mine. All I want to do is play well for the team. The president not being able to sell the club is not my problem, I can’t allow it to affect me.”

Nevertheless, it is a diplomatic stance which can be awkward, particularly when talk turns to the lack of numbers in a squad which remains only a couple of injuries and suspensions away from a crisis.

“We definitely need some players,” said Enrique, despite the arrival of striker Marlon Harewood this week. “We are without Shola (Ameobi) until December, we need more attackers. He is an important player.

“We only have one striker, so we need one striker definitely and we need one winger, one midfielder and one defender.

“We need some players, but I said that two months ago as well because too many players have left. We have a good squad. It’s a little bit small and there are too many players out. The problem is, we have one or two injuries, but if we have more then we will be seriously tested. It’s a big problem.”

Enrique experienced similar issues when he was coming through the ranks at Villarreal in Spain and he is defensive of the young players who were out-played in the Carling Cup this week. It remains a delicate situation.

“We do have young players who are very good,” he added. “But there is a lot of pressure on them to come in if we lose players. I know how difficult it is when you come into a team and there are seven or eight of you stepping in together, at the same time.

“In your mind you feel like you have to show something when you get that chance and maybe try too hard. We do have some good young players here, but I think there is too much pressure on them because this club has to get straight back up to the Premier League.”