Danish central player Jens Jonsson held a virtual press conference this morning with members of the media at the club's Ciudad Deportiva where the midfielder reflected on his brief time so far with Cádiz CF and playing in LaLiga Santander. “The coronavirus pandemic complicated my start here which has also been somewhat frenetic. There were some positive cases here at the club and that impacted the dynamic of my pre-season training. I arrived late and after being tested, I had to wait for results and missed the end of pre-season. I'm really happy here in Cádiz and it was clear to see in the first pre-season game against Espanyol, a recently relegated side, that the standard in the top flight would be high.”
The language barrier: “I think that not speaking the language is the biggest obstacle in the adaptation process. In Denmark, most people can speak some English or German and I don't have a word of Spanish. Not so many people speak English here, so it is difficult. I do see the adaptation process to a new country as a challenge and I’m trying to integrate. On a social level it’s tough, but on the pitch it’s clear it’s not an issue for me.”
Understanding the coach without speaking the language: “It's tricky communicating with the head coach during training sessions but I do all I can to adapt to the situation. It can be difficult at times when it comes to tactical instructions or with particular exercises but my team-mates help out all they can in explaining things to me. The football we play is direct but I like it, it’s a challenge I’m relishing.”
Happy with the win over Real Madrid. “It was a surprise to beat Real Madrid away from home and it showed that we can compete with any team. The key, however is to ensure that we're always at 100% and if that's the case, then we'll pose a problem for any side. We can't afford to switch off at any stage of any game.”
Knowledge of Cádiz before signing: “To be honest, I knew little about the club before making the move. I knew the club was in the second tier last season and that the last time they were in the top flight was 14-years ago. I had to search a bit on Google to find out the history of Cádiz. Despite a very basic knowledge of the club, I knew nothing about the city but I spoke to a former team-mate who used to play here and he spoke highly of everything.”
Surprised with the good atmosphere in the dressing room: “I get on very well with those players who can speak English but I have to say that the atmosphere within the dressing room is spectacular, the like I've never seen before at other clubs. There's a really positive spirit and this has come as a pleasant surprise.”
A dream to play for Denmark: “Of course, it would be a dream for any player. My focus however is to work hard on a daily basis, play well and if the possibility ever arises of representing Denmark, then that would be a dream come true”.
Having more time on the ball with every matchday: "Having more of the ball is sometimes conditioned by the opposition as certain teams don't let you retain possession. Our style of play can be direct and bypasses the centre of the pitch but I do hope that as the games go by I’ll get more time on the ball.”
