Rubi: 'In a one-off game, two divisions don’t mean that much'
The UD Almería head coach looks ahead to the Spanish Cup first-round tie and appreciates the strong support of the travelling fans
UD Almería head coach Rubi has shared his thoughts ahead of his side’s first-round Spanish Cup clash against CF Lorca Deportiva, emphasising the unpredictability of knockout football and the importance of the team's preparation.
As the Spanish Cup kicks off, Rubi reflected on the excitement of the competition: 'Last season, we had a fantastic run and managed to eliminate Sevilla FC, which was one of the most thrilling days of the season,' the Catalan coach recalled. 'The goal is to go as far as possible and create similar memories, both for the Club and for the team’s internal dynamics. The players are motivated by the opportunity to play.
Despite the two-division gap between the teams, Rubi is wary of the potential for surprises in knockout football: 'It's a tricky match and we’re facing a team that's just come up from the lower leagues,' Rubi said of CF Lorca Deportiva, who are fresh off promotion. 'They have some exciting players—Escobar, Carrillo, and Naranjo—who will make life difficult for us,' the Catalan pointed out.
The Vilassar de Mar native highlighted the physical edge his team holds heading into the match, noting that CF Lorca Deportiva did not play the previous weekend. 'Lorca didn’t play last week, which gives us peace of mind in terms of physical preparation. They’ve had more time to rest and prepare, while our workload has been heavier,' he explained.
However, the UD Almería head coach is mindful of the unpredictable nature of the competition: 'Two divisions of difference may seem significant, but in a one-off match, it’s not as big a factor, especially when you’re playing away. Knockout rounds are always tough and surprises often happen in the first round,' the Catalan stated.
One thing Rubi is particularly grateful for is the strong support of UD Almería’s travelling fans: 'We have 1,000 fans making the trip and we truly appreciate that. It’s important that we give it our all for them. At the end of the day, this is football and we want to make sure our fans enjoy the trip,' Rubi commented.
Concluding his thoughts, Rubi stressed the importance of building on the team's recent good form: 'If we advance, we’ll add another game to our current unbeaten run and that’s worth the effort,' he said. 'Starting streaks where you go 6 games without a W is never easy. If that streak ends, it should be because the opponents earned it on the pitch, not because we fell short,' Rubi concluded.