Rubi: 'Our mentality is to take the game to them at the start'

'Our mentality is to take the game to them (Deportivo de La Coruña) from the start,' stressed UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' in the pre-Dépor press conference. The gaffer made these statements when speaking about his team's differences between the first and second halves of the matches.' 

 

Rubi pointed out: 'we have room for improvement in the first periods and we'll try to make it happen in the imminent league match. It's really difficult for us to always get a match on track in the first 15 minutes, but at least if we aren't fine, neither will our opponents be fine.' As I recognised, against Real Oviedo and in Albacete, UD Almería did not have a good start to the games.

 

Focusing on Dépor, he indicated: 'We're facing a very good team that are growing and settling in nicely in the second tier. On an individual level, they've got two of the best dribblers in the league and on a collective level, they're very well worked and can play you from behind or directly.'  Furthermore, as I said, 'there are times when they struggle to score and other times, they explode and score.' Before all this, the Catalan described the upcoming fixture as 'very difficult'. 

 

'We'll have to play close together and focused, and not let them run, while in attack we need more inspiration,' he added.

 

UD Almería are now on a winless three-game run although they are still in automatic promotion positions as runners-up: 'Now the table is anecdotal, but we're in the promotion zone, apart from the fact that emotionally it's vital to see you there,' he pointed out and then underlined: 'What I value most is that the players are fully committed to being able to achieve the goal and they know that the moment of truth is coming. We've made a great effort to record a 14-game unbeaten streak and that level of demand cannot be lowered.'

 

The Vilassar de Mar native was asked about the recent January transfer window, the non-arrival of a defender and the signing of Selvi, about whom he said: 'He's a great footballer. We wanted to bring a centre-back... Rodrigo Ely, who already knows the Club, Spanish football... It hasn't been possible even though we've tried, but nothing happens because the doubts we had at the beginning in defence have been resolved,' he said. 

 

The UD Almería gaffer was asked if what the team are doing this season had its fair recognition, especially at the local level, and he reflected: 'We must be demanding, I understand that, but we also have to enjoy the journey more, even when we lose. If we all go together, it's easier.'