Rubi: 'From minute one, we need to see a team that transmit and connect with the fans'
The UD Almería head coach acknowledges: 'I understand that people are angry and questioning us, myself included. We must demonstrate our ambition to prove ourselves.'
'From the first minute, we need to see a team that transmit and connect with the fans so they can help us win,' said UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' in the press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against AD Ceuta FC at 2pm.
'UD Almería need to regain their winning form because they aren't playing at the level they should and, furthermore, getting back to winning ways after a draw and two consecutive defeats in recent matches. We need to maintain our 3-point lead over second place or move closer to that position,' he explained.
Rubi, who was emphatic in his remarks, stated: 'It's normal for people to be angry and for us to be questioned, especially me, but we're motivated to regain the trust of those who have lost it. The players and the staff have a tremendous desire to win again,' the Catalan added.
'December and January weren’t good months for us; we weren’t sharp. This run started with the defeat in Ceuta, and now we begin February against the same opponents. Let’s see if we can get back on track,' Rubi said.
The UD Almería head coach again praised the opponents: 'I congratulated them in the first half of the season and I’ll do it again now because they're playing very good football.' He asserted that it will be a difficult match, although, as he pointed out, they will try to overcome it: 'We have to demonstrate the ambition that will allow us to get out of this situation.'
On the other hand, Rubi pointed out: 'Things aren't going to change because the head coach presses one button or another or opts for a different system, but because the players recover the level they've shown and that's my responsibility. We can't lose a match, like the one against SD Eibar, on the last play. We didn't defend well and it hurt a lot. We made another glaring error that shouldn't be repeated. As I said, we have the diagnosis and how to fix it, but we have to know how to put it into practice. The players coming back from injuries are progressing, the new ones are getting more and more minutes… I'm convinced that this team are going to move forward and will be at the top of the table.'
Rubi did not want to talk about the January transfer window, which closes on Monday, until after the match against AD Ceuta FC and when asked about Chumi and Lopy, who are out injured, he replied: 'If they don't make it for Cádiz CF, they'll be available for the following match, although we still need to be cautious.'