Sergi Canos: Surging into the Championship

3rd November 2015 - Bees Review - Joanna Tilley 

Sixty seconds is all it took for Sergi Canos to make an impression during his home debut for Brentford. The 18-year-old winger, on loan from Liverpool, exploded off the bench to provide the assist for Lasse Vibe’s equaliser against Preston North End.

If his cross didn’t catch the eye of the fans, the attacking energy he brought to the team certainly did. 

“Before the match against Preston, I was nervous,” Sergi told me. “I didn’t know if I was ready for the Championship, or even to be on the bench."But it was nice to get an assist in my first moments on the pitch. It made me feel that I’m ready to play at this level."

The Griffin Park faithful immediately responded to the player who changed the tide of the game with some cheeky flicks and a fearless attitude.

"The reception I’ve got from the fans so far has been incredible and to get the fans’ man of the match for my home debut was unbelievable. I don’t know if the fans expected something from me but I was really happy with that.”

It is possible Bees fans were expecting something special from a youngster with a notable footballing CV. Canos is the product of FC Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy and signed for Liverpool much to the frustration of the Catalan giant.

Championship Player of the Month for October, Alan Judge, has been impressed with the Spaniard's attacking style but it is clear to anyone who watches him for more than a few minutes that Canos is not afraid of taking on opponents, or using an audacious piece of skill when required.

“I’ve always played like that. Since I started playing football at the age of five, we would play on concrete in my hometown of Nules; we always had cuts and grazes. Now you see the boys playing on grass, whereas I played on rock.”

The quality of the pitches improved somewhat for Canos when he joined Barca’s Academy at the age of 13.

“I think the most important thing I learned from La Masia was how to be more responsible and independent. I was living alone there, although surrounded by other boys, but there was more responsibility playing for Barca.”  

Although Sergi wasn’t sure how seriously to take Bees Review’s claim that Brentford were the Barcelona of West London, he recognised that the clubs do have their similarities, as well as differences.

“Of course there are some – we play football. Not long balls or anything like that. We are not like Barcelona because we do not have Messi! But we are playing attractive football and that’s why I came here, because I knew this was the style I wanted to play.”

Currently on loan until January, Sergi says he would like to be at Griffin Park a little longer. 

“I want to stay until the end of the season. That’s my objective – to stay. I’m really happy here. I enjoy each day and am learning new things: the intensity at training and the type of football, plus playing with men like Judgey and Alan McCormack. I can learn a lot from them." 

Ultimately, he will be looking to get a place in the Liverpool first team. The city is not just home to his football club but also his family, who moved with him to the UK.

“Moving over here in 2013 was a difficult transition. But it was the best decision of my life because my family came with me and my sister is at school and speaks English like an English girl.”

“We are going to open a restaurant in Liverpool. It should be open any day now. All our lives have changed. They live in Liverpool and come to watch me play. They give me a lot of confidence and when I warm up and see them – it gives me strength.”

The Canos family are working in collaboration with renowned Spanish chef Miguel Barrera, whose restaurant Cal Paradis in Castellón has a Michelin Star.

“For me he is the best chef in Spain, that’s why he’s at our restaurant," says Sergi with a laugh. "It is a Spanish restaurant and his speciality is in rice, although there is a tapas section.”

Despite leaving Liverpool for London, Sergi was excited about the news Jurgen Klopp was to become manager of the Reds.

"It is amazing. Klopp and Liverpool is the perfect match – there is so much passion amongst the fans. And he seems very passionate. Hopefully in the future I will have a chance to talk to him.”

 

When he is not playing for Brentford, or keeping an eye on Liverpool, Sergi is cheering on Valencia.

“I am a big fan,” said Sergi. “When I was five-years-old I was going to the Mestalla Stadium regularly. My dad supports Valencia, although my sister supports Barcelona. When I went to Barcelona she was so excited, it was a dream for her.”

There is no doubt Sergi’s talent has already brought plenty of excitement, and changes, to the lives of his family and others around him.

But his career in England is just beginning, and if his first minute on the Griffin Park turf is anything to go by, it could be quite a ride.  

Alan Judge: Brentford's secret weapon

30th October 2015 - Published in Bees Review

One word which might spring to mind when you think of Alan Judge is energy. The Brentford midfielder never seems to run out of it and this quality would have served him well over a busy October.

After being called-up for the Republic of Ireland squad, Judge burst onto the Griffin Park turf against Rotherham United with an exquisite second-minute volley and his first header for The Bees. Judge was named man of the match and the performance perfectly encapsulated the energy he has brought to the club since his arrival on loan at the start of 2014.

“It was brilliant to be called up to the Republic of Ireland squad and a good experience,” Alan told Bees Review. “I must be close to making the team if they called me in and I think I have shown in training that I am a decent player. The manager more or less said he needs a friendly to come around to see me on the pitch which I understand because the lads are playing very well at the moment.”

Straight after returning from duty, Alan’s next mission was moving into a new home with his wife Emma and daughter Emily. At the time of speaking to him, he was also awaiting an addition to the family.

“He or she is due on 29 October,” said Alan. “Let’s hope it is either before or after the game as there is no way I want to be missing that match. But if she goes into labour during the game I would be running off and going straight to the hospital.”

Family comes first, but Judge understands the importance of a local derby after the fixtures against Fulham last year.

“I didn’t think too much about it in the lead up. I knew Fulham were rivals but when I played in the game at Griffin Park I started to realise how the fans felt about it."

"I remember when Jota scored right at the end and I fell to the floor because I was so exhausted. Everyone put everything into that game – it was for the fans.”

Judge also has fond memories of the match at Craven Cottage as it was an important time in his career.

“That game was brilliant. I was just returning from injury and I wasn’t at full fitness. There were niggles and I wasn’t getting into the team at the time. It was great to score in front of 6,000 away fans. It was an unbelievable atmosphere and we blew them away.”

If Judge ever forgets the importance of tonight’s clash with QPR, he has player liaison manager and match-day announcer Peter Gilham to remind him.

“I have Peter continuously telling me that we have to beat them. We have to! Peter is a die-hard Brentford fan and has become a good friend to me. I want to do well for the club and especially for people as nice as him.”

Although footballers are recognised for their competitive spirit and physicality, Judge’s doggedness often shines out – partly, perhaps, because it contrasts with his small stature.

“I hate losing,” said Alan. “Just hate it. I got used to winning last year and I like being the best at what I can do. You can accept having a bad day but I can’t accept people giving in. So I make sure I work hard. I put in the effort on the training pitch too.

“Through that hard work you reap rewards. People think you are small so you can’t tackle. If you go in and give everything most people will be surprised by your strength. The worse thing that can happen is that you get injured.”

Judge’s father played football in Ireland, is that where his determination came from?

“Well he used to go around kicking people so I’m not at his level. It does help when your father played football; it has had a massive impact on the way I play, definitely. He played for Fulham when he was younger."

“That’s not going to win me any friends around here, is it?! But he moved back home because his mother was unwell. He made a good career in Ireland.”

While Judge has many good qualities, it is probably only fair some attention is given to his faults. 

Teammate Andreas Bjelland told Bees Review at the start of the season the Irish players are the loudest in the squad, but Judge is quick to start a rebuttal.

“Andreas is the moaniest person I have ever met in my whole life," he says with affection. "Every morning he is grumbling about something or the other. If the grass is green, he moans.”

At this point in the interview, Brentford defender Alan McCormack walks by and Judge asks him who the moaniest person in the team is. McCormack points at Judge.

“Before Andreas, it would have definitely been Judge,” says McCormack. “Now he has a bit of competition.”  

When he is not busy moaning, Alan has been impressed with the new members of the team.

“Maxime Colin, I like him,” said Alan. “He’s good on the ball, knows how to tackle. Sergio is so direct and we need that."

"The new players are settling in well but it will take time. In some cases they’ve come from a country where you can barely touch a player to one when you can boot them six feet into the air. They will get stronger.”

When it comes to toughening up, chances are Judge’s presence has already sped up the process.