Kenneth Omeruo: “We are working hard to be ready for the first match”

C.D Leganés’ central defender attended the media this Tuesday after the training session held at Instalación Deportiva Butarque. The Nigerian analyzed the return to competition which will be on Saturday 13^th (19:30h) against Real Valladolid

The defender believes he will get physically ready for restart: “Physically I am still lacking a little bit but I am sure that before the game I’ll be ready. I am switching to work on my mentality since the league restart is 100% sure, so we are working up to be ready for that game.

The number 4 is satisfied about the return to full-group training sessions after some weeks of individualized and small group sessions: “The coaches have been giving us a lot of training both physical and tactical as well. It is all about how we manage this situation. We are happy to see each other after a long time and it has been good, we will be ready.

“We are playing without our fans at home so we must be more focused”

Omeruo is not sure how playing without fans may influence the performance: “We are playing without our fans at home so we must be more focused, but I think it could work in our favor, I hope it does. Our chances are more or less the same. We have to grab it, we have the opportunity to avoid relegation and we are working hard to achieve it.

I think right now is better to follow the instructions of LaLiga because it is still risky. We love our fans and we love them at Butarque but right now safety is more important. We will try to give them the best results while they watch from home.

“Awaziem is Young, he has all it takes to get to the top”

One of the aspects of the game Omeruo hopes to improve are the set pieces: “set pieces are difficult because sometimes you make a little mistake or your teammate doesn’t cover a player and you get scored or sometimes you may miss a player but nothing happens, so we have been unlucky before with set pieces. We are working hard to correct that”.

Omeruo also highlighted his defensive partner, Chidozie Awaziem: “He can get very far on his career. He is young, energetic, strong and he has all it takes to get to the top. I just think he need the opportunity to play. He can play anywhere”.

“I hope this time does because it has been going on for a long time”

Regarding personal matters, Kenneth talked about his experience during lockdown: “It has been difficult especially for my wife that could not go out. I usually go out mostly to get groceries and then get back home. It has been difficult because nobody expected such a thing to happen, but I am happy with the way it is being managed in Spain. A lot of people have followed the curfew and stayed at home and everything has been done. I am happy to be back doing what we love, playing football.

When asked about his country’s situation, the declared: “In Nigeria there are few cases, not a lot and everyone is being cautious. I speak to my family every day and tell them the importance of staying at home and not going out if it is not necessary. There are not as many cases as here”.

Finally, Omeruo referred about the recent protests against racism in United States: “I hope this time does because it has been going on for a long time. I am happy that I have not being a victim, but it is sad to see the videos and to see someone being killed by the people who is supposed to protect him. I am happy that everyone is saying it: not only the black are going out to protests, also whites and everyone so that is positive. I hope this time it changes something”.