Rubi: 'We're facing very tough opponents'

UD Almería head coach Rubi has warned that Saturday’s match against Real Sporting de Gijón, set for 9pm (Spanish Time), will be a challenging one. Both teams head into the encounter with two consecutive defeats, though Rubi noted that Sporting’s losses came in the dying moments of their matches.

'Sporting lost their last two games in the final minutes, including a 2-2 draw where they were looking for a third goal. They’ll be a tough team to face,' Rubi explained.

The Rojiblancos' gaffer highlighted Sporting’s strength, calling them a well-prepared side with a defined tactical approach and key players who can make a difference. It’s going to be a long and difficult game,' Rubi added.

While expressing regret over the lack of points from recent performances, Rubi was quick to praise his players' efforts. 'We’ve deserved more from the work we’ve put in,' he admitted, though he remained self-critical. 'The last two matches, even though we lost, I liked how we played, apart from the 60th minute against Racing Santander. I’d be happy to repeat everything else,' he said. 

Rubi also referenced some key moments that have not gone in their favour, including the controversial rebound goal against Valladolid, VAR reviews and Lopy’s red card. 'We've had some specific situations that haven’t helped us,' he said. However, Rubi emphasised his full trust in the referees, acknowledging the difficult position they are in.

On Lopy’s disciplinary issues, Rubi explained that the midfielder's playing style sometimes leads to yellow cards, but he stressed that the player is never malicious. 'Lopy plays aggressively, but he’s a good player and doesn’t intend to harm anyone,' he stated.

Ahead of the final training session before the match, Rubi confirmed that Chumi is the only absentee due to injury, while Baba, Soko, and Lopy are available for selection again.