What Jose Enrique told the media

Click on the play button below to watch Enrique meet the press

How pleased are you to be here?

I am really, really happy to be here. It's one of the best teams in the world for history. It's a pleasure to play for this team. I've been here just one week and played just one game but I know there are really good players and I hope to enjoy it here a lot.

It sounds like the manager put you in before even you expected to play (last weekend) - you only had a little bit of notice?

Yes, it's true. I didn't know I was playing until some hours before the match but of course I was really happy to play. I only had one day training with the team but if the manager picks me I want to play.

How good has it been this week to get together with your new teammates?

It's really important and of course I still need more time. I hope in this game (against Arsenal) I can play like I did for Newcastle but I think I need more matches to know the players and of course they need to know me more too.

You were linked to Liverpool for quite a long time - how difficult a process was it for you bearing in mind you seemed to enjoy your time at Newcastle?

It's a really good move for me to come here but when I played for Newcastle I was really happy. My work is just to play football and if I had to stay at Newcastle one year more I could have stayed one year more.

Things took a long time to sort out. Was there frustration on your part because you knew Liverpool were there?

Yes, of course. When I knew I could move here I was excited to come. I know it was a long time because all summer I thought about that but only moved one week ago. It was frustrating but it's okay.

You've come to a top club - what are your hopes? Clearly everyone at Liverpool wants to be back in the Champions League - from what you've seen, is that realistic?

Everyone wants to be there. I've never played in the Champions League and it's a dream for me. You have to be realistic, it's really difficult this year because the Premier League is the best league in the world and six or seven or eight teams here are really, really good. It's very difficult to be there but if we play like we played in the first half against Sunderland I think we can be there.

Do you think you're still growing as a player and that we haven't seen the best of you yet?

Yes, of course. I am just 25-years-old, I have to improve a lot. I came here for that. There are a lot of good players and I have to learn a lot (from them).

Does it help that there are so many people here who speak Spanish?

I can speak a lot with Luis Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez, Lucas Leiva - lots of them have been really good with me since I came here and I'm really happy for that.

The top teams have lots of competition for places with two players for every slot. Do you feel there is that kind of competition here?

We have an amazing squad. There are two or three left-backs here, maybe more. Fabio Aurelio is a really good player. He's been unlucky with injuries but he's really good. I saw him playing for Valencia. It's good for the players to have competition because you know your work is never done.

One player you know more than most is Andy Carroll because you were together at Newcastle. For people who haven't seen as much of him yet, how good can he be?

For Newcastle he was brilliant. I know he was in the Premier League for just six months but he was brilliant. He is a really young player and has to learn a lot, like everyone. But I think he can be really, really important for us.

In terms of him and Suarez, two of the best strikers in the world...

They are different, they have different qualities and that's really good for us and the players who play with them. Luis Suarez is very good with the ball and Andy in the air is amazing.

You've played for Spain U21s, U19s and U16s - is that part of why you moved, to get into the Spanish side?

Playing for a team like Liverpool you have more chances to go but if I'm honest I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried to be good for Liverpool. They signed me and I have ideas to show my football and I hope I can do it very well. The national team would be a pleasure and a dream because Spain is a really good national team but if I don't go I'll just work here at Liverpool.

You play Arsenal this weekend. They've had some problems this week. What did you make of that, especially Cesc Fabregas, who is Spanish like yourself?

I think it's really difficult for them because I think maybe Nasri will go (as well). He is a good player for them too. Fabregas has gone already and when you lose your best players it's bad for the team. More in terms of mentality, because they have other really good players.

Is it a similar situation to Newcastle when Andy Carroll left and the rest of you came together - maybe Arsenal will do the same without Fabregas and perhaps Nasri?

I think it's a different situation. Arsenal is an amazing team and I think they'll buy players soon before the end of the market. But it is hard. At Newcastle we had the same with Andy Carroll and after that Kevin Nolan. For the players it's really hard when you lose your best players.

In terms of the top four, do you see six or seven teams competing for it?

A lot of teams have spent a lot of money on players and that's why it's the best league in the world. It's really hard to be in the top four positions but we have to try.

The biggest game for you over the last four years has been Newcastle v Sunderland. That's this week - will you miss it?

Of course. I'm sad because it's an amazing game. I played four years there and I was really happy there. Now I play for Liverpool but I have a lot of friends there. It's a really big game and I hope they win.

Will you be watching?

Of course, of course.

You seem to have left Newcastle as friends - sometimes that doesn't happen in football...

I know it's really hard because today you can be here and tomorrow you are in another city. It's hard to have friends but I think I leave a lot of friends in Newcastle and I'm really happy for them because I think they can be really good this season. I am not with them now but I want the best for them.