Sergio Carreira was officially presented as a player this Tuesday. Elche CF. Young Galician player is coming Loaned by Celta de Vigo with option to buy. The deal was completed on the last day of the market and was unveiled in Valladolid last Sunday.
Why did you decide on Elche?
In recent years I have been at other types of clubs (Villarreal B and Mirandés) that do not have a historical trajectory like Elche, which has a very large fan base and a different type of influence. I needed this pressure incentive and Sergio (Mantecón) gave me the necessary confidence and I finally decided to come.
Were you surprised to be in the starting five in Valladolid after such a short time in the team?
This was no surprise because he had been preparing for the match all week.
How did he find himself and why did he come on in the 57th minute?
I felt good. It was a little difficult for me at first, but as the minutes passed, I started to adapt well. For me it is a new team with a different style of play and I need to adapt as quickly as possible. As for the change, we suffered the expulsion of Mario, he was already playing as a winger and centre-back and the coach decided to change the system with one less and bring in a more pure centre-back like Álex Martín.
He has always been a winger and a deep winger. How are you adapting to having to play more as a centre-back?
The truth is that until now he had played more as a winger, at different heights and reached the attack. In modern football, full-backs now play more in deeper areas and help clear the ball. By taking on this responsibility when bringing the ball out, I can adapt to what the coach wants from me.
What did the coach tell you?
First of all, I know how to understand and adapt to the game systems they use and when I have to dare to press after losing the ball.
What caught your attention the most about Beccacece?
He is a passionate, dedicated coach who feels what he is doing and uses a playing system that is not very common in the Second League. He likes to play like this no matter what and gives us the peace of mind to bring his ideas to life. He is a coach with a lot of character.
Do they suffer from taking so many risks defensively and does it make them doubt the system?
We must try to come out with the ball played, but this does not mean that we can kick the ball when necessary. However, the aim is to keep the ball clean and allow a third player to gain advantage.
Josan’s injury opened the door to a starting position for him and he can now move on and adapt more quickly…
Having to replace a teammate due to injury is never a good thing. When it comes to the last minute, it becomes more difficult to get into the team and it takes a little more time to adapt. I thought it would cost me more, but from the first moment I felt very comfortable and my teammates helped me a lot.
Are you already looking forward to playing in front of the fans at Martínez Valero on Sunday?
I was already on the bench in the match against Racing de Santander. When I arrived on the first day, I was able to enter the stadium and although it was empty, I was very impressed. It’s a huge area and it’s crazy. The truth is I really want to play this weekend and feel our fans.