Press conference
Rubi: 'We need to win now to get through this rough patch'
The UD Almería head coach recognises that this game is important after not winning the last 6 games, although not for table purposes but because it has been so long. The gaffer is optimistic about collecting three points on Saturday, even though he recognises: 'Málaga CF are difficult to beat.'
'We need to win now to get through this rough patch,' said UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' in the pre-match press conference. The Rojiblancos will be hosting Málaga CF at the UD Almería Stadium this Saturday for a 9pm kick-off. He specified that the urgency to win is not for table purposes, but rather due to the fact that it has been so long without collecting three points at once. 'If CD Mirandés had won on the last Matchday, we would've been in the play-offs, but further away from first, so I don't know which is better. There are 8 teams that are involved in the race for promotion.'
The Catalan coach acknowledged: 'What hurts is that 6 weeks ago we were in a privileged situation and now we aren't.' Hence they are looking forward to redeeming ourselves and make up for it by winning a match, although as he clarified 'then we will have to win many more... us and the others."
When talking about the rivals Málaga CF, he made it clear: 'It's very difficult to beat them, although it's also difficult for them.' The Boquerones are the ones with the most draws in the league (14), half of the games played. Rubi stressed: 'Apart from being combative and tough, they also have quality and talented players. They have a good job of organisation and set pieces.' Furthermore, he appreciated that their goalkeeper is one of those with the highest percentage of saves in the entire LaLiga Hypermotion.
The event is going to be demanding and complicated, but the UD Almería head coach is optimistic because he sees the work of his players and is convinced that they will recover their good vibes. In fact, it already happened on the last Matchday against Sporting de Gijón and against Elche CF previously despite not winning.
'During the season the team have had their good times of fine form and look for readjustments. The Gijón system is also a possibility at home. We were looking to reach half-time with a clean sheet. We lacked more threat, but then we created enough to score. If I see players who wake up to the maximum it could be that we return to what we did before. That would be my dream,' explained the head coach.
The Vilassar de Mar native praised, once again, the support of the fans, and insisted that their backing 'is going to be decisive in the remaining games to be played at the UD Almería Stadium.' The head coach pointed out that the second-tier league is being extremely competitive and despite having dropped some positions, he states that his team is working to once again be up to par with what the competition requires.