Rubi: 'We've taken a step back, but nothing is decided yet'

UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' admitted UD Almería have taken 'a step back' in the race for automatic promotion, but stressed that the battle for a place in the top flight is still alive.

Speaking after the 1-2 defeat to UD Las Palmas, the gaffer said: 'We've taken a step back in the fight for automatic promotion, but nothing is decided yet. We'll wait and see what happens.'

Rubi remained confident that, whether promotion comes through automatic promotion or through the play-offs, his side will still be major contenders. He stated UD Almería will be 'an important team and one to fear for any opponents in the final stretch of the campaign.'

Reflecting on the match, the Catalan described the result as cruel after the Rojiblancos dominated for long spells. 'It's a shame. In two minutes, the game slipped away from us. It's an important lesson for what lies ahead. Before we realised it, we'd gone from winning to losing.'

The Vilassar de Mar native believed his team deserved all 3 points and felt football had been harsh on his players. 'We were better than the opposition and deserved to win, but football isn't about what you deserve. It was unforgiving with us. We made mistakes in those few minutes when we conceded, but in the rest of the match we reigned superior.'

Rubi also highlighted the quality of UD Almería’s first-half display, calling it one of the strongest performances of the season and admitted the late turnaround had been a heavy blow.

Despite the setback, Rubi insisted his team will respond: 'We'll get back up because nothing is lost. Automatic promotion is difficult now, but it's not impossible.'