Rubi: 'We want to achieve our 6th consecutive home victory'
The UD Almería first-team boss focuses on his team's current form despite AD Ceuta FC setback.
UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' is determined to achieve his side's 6th back-to-back home victory as they prepare for Saturday's encounter with SD Huesca at the UD Almería Stadium. The Matchday 16 fixture will kick off at 6:30pm (Spanish time).
Speaking ahead of the match, Rubi emphasised the need to put their recent disappointment against AD Ceuta FC behind them and focus solely on SD Huesca and their current form. 'We’ve turned the page on what happened in Ceuta and are focusing on SD Huesca and our current form. 'We want to achieve our 6th consecutive home victory,' he explained.
The Catalan acknowledged the team's excellent recent run, noting that they have won 5 straight home matches and are now aiming to extend that positive streak. 'We have racked up 5 consecutive home wins and we want to keep it up to get our 6th and thus climb a little higher in the standings,' he stressed.
The UD Almería first-team boss also reflected on the setback in Ceuta, where his team saw their 9-match unbeaten run come to an end. 'It bothers me to have broken the 9-game unbeaten streak, but we've already turned the page, as the players showed me in Thursday's training session,' Rubi admitted. However, he did point out the need for self-criticism, acknowledging that there were areas in which the team could have done better.
The Vilassar de Mar native also took the opportunity to praise SD Huesca, a club he holds dear from his time working there: 'They’re going to make it difficult for us. They're players who know how to play football very well, who are skilled and experienced like Sergi Enrich, Pulido, Portillo… and other young talents who contribute speed. Furthermore, they come with the good momentum of the new head coach and having beaten Sporting Gijón.'
The UD Almería head coach also commented on the potential reaction of the fans toward the referee, following recent controversies: 'The fans are free to react as they wish. My opinion is that they should cheer us on a lot so we can win and continue our upward trajectory and above all, show respect for the refereeing team and SD Huesca.'