Rubi: 'We're ready to compete'
The UD Almería head coach, who emphasised that Albacete Balompié have had a good pre-season, conveyed the entire squad's excitement about starting the league by earning the 3 points at stake.
'We're ready to compete,' stated UD Almería head coach Rubi when looking ahead to the official season kick-off, which takes place this Monday at 9:30pm when they host Albacete Balompié. The head coach made these statements during the pre-match press conference. 'From 14 July, when we began training, to 8 August, we've put a tremendous physical strain on the players, in addition to instilling concepts and tactical work. We were unsure when our legs would be fresh and rested, but the match against Al Nassr FC gave us a great vibes. That's why I think we're ready. We've been training well and are eager to start by earning the first 3 points. There is a lot of excitement among the squad,' he explained.
When asked about the opponents, Rubi responded: 'The first few Matchdays can always be uncertain, but in the case of Albacete Balompié, they're keeping the same coaching staff, many players from last season, they've strengthened well and they've had a good pre-season that we've followed.' He acknowledged the difficulties, which will be many. He was also asked about the registration: 'The Club reassures me and that everyone will be available on Monday.' That's true, except for Nelson Monte, who, with a severe ankle sprain, could miss Matchday 3, Bruno Iribarne, who is awaiting a check-up on a broken finger and Baba: 'Who is fine, but we must follow some protocols.' The Ghanaian could start with the group in September after the serious injury he suffered last season.
The Catalan acknowledged that he has dedicated many hours: 'To the defensive aspect, to ensuring that the 11 players are a unit and that they all press, in order to be a solid and compact team. And with the departure of important players and a smaller budget, the new UD Almería will stand out 'for the commitment of all the players, which is incredible, for the enthusiasm, for the reset of those who have stayed, for what the younger players can contribute... we're going to be more compact.'
After being relegated from the top tier, the Club had a chance to avoid relegation; now they no longer do so and this circumstance, combined with the transfers of Luis Suárez, Marc Pubill and other factors will make 'the fight for promotion more complicated.'
'The objective is to fight for promotion, either through automatic promotion or via the play-offs,' he added. The Vilassar de Mar native believes that all positions on the team are doubled and emphasises the versatility that exists. Despite this, he hopes there will be more additions, provided 'they come to add to the mix.'
'We can compete with what we have and the signings we’ve made will help us be more attacking, compact and always be in the game, he concluded.