Rubi: 'Competition on the pitch is tighter than it seems'
The UD Almería head coach looks ahead to the Anduva Stadium test against CD Mirandés amid numerous squad absences
UD Almería head coach Rubi has offered his thoughts on the upcoming match against CD Mirandés, stressing the need for his team to be at their best both with and without the ball. In his pre-match analysis, he downplayed CD Mirandés' current league position, warning that their challenge will be far from straightforward.
'They're fighting for their lives. They're doing things well despite the results,' Rubi said, pointing to CD Mirandés' strong performance against SD Eibar. 'There are no easy matches here and this one also has the extra motivation for them of playing their first game at the Anduva and returning to play at home. They're also quite active in the transfer market, and I guess the competition on the pitch is much tighter than it seems.'
The Catalan gaffer anticipates a physically demanding encounter, describing CD Mirandés' style as direct and aggressive. 'We know how we like to get the ball into the opposition's area, and we're not going to abandon our style. However, we must adapt to certain situations like tackles, challenges, and especially a lot of direct play. If we're not on our game, we're going to struggle for sure,' Rubi warned.
'I can't imagine winning without playing well both with and without the ball, but it's clear we'll be looking to create many chances. They send balls into the box from almost anywhere on the pitch,' he added.
With several key players sidelined, Rubi confirmed that his squad will continue to face challenges in terms of availability. 'We still have a significant number of players out. Compared to last week, we only have Horta and Thalys back, but Robertone is doubtful due to an Achilles tendon issue. It's a tough time in this regard and we have to repeat last week's effort to get the same result.'
The Vilassar de Mar native also spoke about the significance of CD Mirandés' return to their home ground at Anduva, the first time the team will play there this season. 'We're happy that they're returning to their home ground because it's good news. We're the first team to play there and they'll surely treat it like a celebration. We truly hope everything is in order, but we would've preferred not to have had so much uncertainty about where the match would be played until practically yesterday. Our fans also wanted to know so they could plan to see their team.'