Rubi: 'It's been an endurance exercise with doses of grit, strength and quality'

The UD Almería coach, who reached a century of league games in the driving seat of the Rojiblancos first team, achieved a vital victory for the future of the team. 'We needed something like this to happen. It's more epic to be able to win a game with 10 players for so many minutes and even be able to score another goal. I think this must be valued. We've seen a very supportive team, let's see if we're able to extend this ability to work for our team-mate, to fight for every ball. It's fundamental in today's football.'

 

The Vilassar de Mar native valued UD Almería's opening minutes: 'We once again made a great start to the game, which was not rewarded with a goal. There has been another stretch that Burgos CF have bossed things and we've turned it around again, before Arribas was sent off. Then, it's been an endurance exercise with a dose of grit, strength and quality because our players being reduced to 10, have been able to create big chances.'

 

One of the aspects to improve for the Indálico team was the defensive one, in which Rubi recognised the improvement: 'We've defended very well. In one week, we've gone from being a team that concede some somewhat inexplicable plays to seeming like it's very difficult to score a goal. Sometimes it's a matter of having negative plays happen to you to correct and see if the players you are playing with can raise the level, which is what we achieved today. The defensive work of the week, with the previous errors, has worked out for this game. What continues to worry me is continuity.' 

 

The head coach is convinced that the victory against Burgos CF will bear fruit in the coming fixtures: 'This is an example of what we can be capable of, even with one less player.' Regarding what he told them in the dressing room at half-time, after Arribas was sent off in the 35th minute, he pointed out: 'I've tried to convey to the players that they should forget what had happened, that they had to make an effort and that we must be 2-0 up. We played a brilliant second half.'