Rubi: ‘We can't fail on Sunday to arrive at the play-offs in good form’
The UD Almería head coach admits first-half performance condemned UD Almería but insists the squad remains united ahead of decisive final match against Real Valladolid next Sunday
UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' acknowledged: ‘We're angry with ourselves, but we're united and strong,’ following UD Almería’s defeat in Gijón. 'The deficit from the first half has condemned us,' he said. It was a match in which his side arrived aiming to bag all 3 points and keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion.
UD Almería travelled to El Molinón Stadium determined to win and hope that Deportivo de La Coruña would lose in Valladolid, but the Galicia side secured victory and confirmed their promotion to the top flight. As a result, UD Almería remain 3rd in the standings, a position Rubi described as ‘important,’ as finishing there would guarantee home advantage in the promotion play-offs.
Reflecting on the match, the Catalan explained that his team started well but became ‘affected by what was at stake,’ while Sporting played with greater freedom and produced an excellent first half. ‘At 2-0 everything became very difficult, but in the second half we tried until the end. The deficit from the first 45 minutes has condemned us,’ he stated.
Despite the disappointment, Rubi stressed the team’s mentality: ‘We're angry with ourselves, but we're united and strong.’ It is now 3 consecutive matches without a win for UD Almería, including 2 defeats, but the gaffer dismissed concerns about form, stating that each match has its own context and insisting the team can perform better.
‘We've never gone more than 3 games without winning and we'll fight to make sure that remains the case,’ he added.
Finally, Rubi congratulated Racing de Santander and Deportivo de La Coruña on their promotion to LaLiga EA Sports.