UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi', admitted after the first-leg draw in Castellón that his team needed reassurance during the interval before producing a much-improved second-half display.

'At half-time we had to calm the players down and adjust a few things,' explained the UD Almería gaffer. 'We knew it was going to be very difficult, especially in the first half, because in a knockout tie the opposition were always going to come out aggressively and that is exactly what happened. They pressed us very intensely after losing possession and made things very difficult for us.'

The Catalan acknowledged that his side struggled to establish control of the game and failed to make the most of several counter-attacking opportunities. 'We found it difficult to keep the ball and we wasted some chances to launch counter-attacks,' he said.

The Rojiblancos' head coach also described CD Castellón’s opener as a 'soft goal', which arrived following a scramble inside the penalty area after a corner-kick just before the break.

Despite the setback, UD Almería responded strongly after the interval. 'The second half was great and we managed to get ourselves back into the game,' said Rubi, who also highlighted the positive impact of his substitutions.

Nico Melamed played a crucial role in the move that led to the equaliser, while Rubi reserved special praise for Chumi, who returned to action after a spell on the sidelines: 'He's a great professional. He stays fully focused at all times and is a player you can always rely on.'

Although another draw in the second leg would be enough to send UD Almería through to the play-off final, Rubi insisted his team will not approach Tuesday’s match with a defensive mindset. 'Our intention is to go out and win the game. We're very strong at home,' he stressed.

Nevertheless, the Vilassar de Mar native warned against complacency: 'CD Castellón are a brilliant team. They'll come here looking to win and it'll be a very tough match.'

Rubi also took time to praise the atmosphere generated by the home supporters at the Castalia stadium before calling on the UD Almería faithful to play their part in the return leg: 'The home fans were exemplary, and now it’s our turn. On Tuesday, we all must push together.'

The UD Almería head coach concluded by thanking the travelling crowd who made the journey from Almería: 'I want to thank all the fans who travelled from Almería for their support. They were fantastic throughout the match.'