Jose Enrique Sees Barbosa and Ernesto as Partners, Not Rivals in Persik's Attack

Jose Enrique has dismissed the notion that the arrival of Eduardo Barbosa and Ernesto Gomez threatens his place in Persik Kediri's attack. The Spanish striker instead called his two teammates partners who make the team stronger.

Through the seventh week of the 2026/2027 BRI Super League, all three have two goals apiece. Notably, each scored a brace in a different match: Enrique in the 2-0 win over Garudayaksa FC at Pakansari Stadium, Barbosa when Persik beat Madura United 2-0 at Brawijaya Stadium, and Gomez in the 2-1 win over PSS in Kediri.

Enrique sees internal competition as normal and, in fact, motivating. He stressed that team success matters more than personal ambition to be top scorer. "I'm happy there are other teammates who can score. It's the solution when I don't have the chance to do it. Team achievement is more important than personal ambition," he said.

Last season, Enrique impressed with 13 goals and became Persik's mainstay. Now, with the additions of Barbosa and Gomez, the Macan Putih attack is increasingly competitive. Coach Marcos Reina also benefits from having many options, including a fit Sergio Castel.

This squad depth is a valuable asset for Persik to compete in a long competition. With the right rotation, the team can maintain performance and avoid fatigue. Enrique himself recognizes that healthy competition will push all the forwards to keep improving their quality.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Reina manages the playing time of the three strikers. Will Enrique remain the first choice, or will Barbosa and Gomez prove more productive? Either way, for Persik, having three sharp forwards is a luxury few other teams enjoy.