Jose Enrique Won’t Let Spain Snub Distract From Liverpool Mission

Jose Enrique admitted being bothered by his omission from the most recent Spain friendlies with England and Costa Rica. But the Liverpool fullback vows not to let it deter him from reaching his goal of leading the Reds' to a top-four finish, according to LiverpoolFC.tv.

"I was a little bit disappointed," Enrique said about missing out on Spain's recent friendlies. "I think I am at one of the best clubs, not just in England but in the world. For me Liverpool is one of the best three in the world alongside AC Milan and Real Madrid.

"But to be honest I don't really think about it too much. My focus is on Liverpool and trying to help us improve. My objective for this season is to help Liverpool play in the Champions League next season."

The 25-year-old Spaniard joined Liverpool from Newcastle last summer in a £6 million ($9.3 million) transfer. His assured performances in 12 English Premier League games have put him among the Reds' top players this season and drawn calls for his inclusion in the Spanish national team. 

Enrique has played for his country at the U-16, U-20 and U-21 level, but has yet to break into the senior team. He left his homeland for English soccer in 2007 as an unheralded 21-year-old and has since built a reputation as one of the Premier League's best left backs.

Photo via Flickr/dannymol