Rubi: 'We have the team’s diagnosis and we’re working on the solutions'
The UD Almería head coach expects a very demanding test at the Ipurúa Stadium but believes his side are ready to show their best version again
UD Almería head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia, Rubi, has described Sunday’s game against SD Eibar at the Ipurúa Stadium as a tough challenge, while also expressing confidence that his team are moving in the right direction and ready to respond.
‘This week has been, by far, the best in training. We’ve demanded maximum concentration and intensity from the players and they’ve responded perfectly. Now we have to show that on the pitch,’ Rubi said during his pre-Eibar press conference.
The Catalan gaffer underlined the difficulty of playing against SD Eibar, pointing to a long-standing hallmark of the Basque side. ‘SD Eibar have had a very clear defining characteristic for years: how hard it is to play at their ground. They play everything at maximum intensity, which forces you to be extremely focused and at the very least, match their level,’ he explained.
When discussing the keys to the game, Rubi highlighted several aspects, with particular emphasis on ball retention. ‘When we have the ball, we can’t lose it quickly because they press relentlessly and force mistakes. Set-pieces at Ipurúa are also a major factor to consider,’ he noted.
Rubi also praised SD Eibar’s home performances, while suggesting their away results have not reflected their displays: ‘They haven’t had much luck in some away matches and have deserved more points.'
Although the outcome of the Matchday could see UD Almería drop out of the promotion play-off places, the head coach was clear about the team’s mindset. ‘We want to beat SD Eibar not because of the VIP zone, but to get closer again to the automatic promotion spots we were so close to not long ago. It’s a very tight race and nothing is decided yet. A win would give us a huge boost,’ he stated.
The Vilassar de Mar native is also expecting a positive reaction from his squad after recent results. ‘We have the team’s diagnosis and we’re working on the solutions. New players have arrived who will help us, we’ve recovered others from injury and we’ve made the necessary adjustments to avoid losing the way we did last Matchday. We can play better or worse, but what we can’t do is shoot ourselves in the foot or make glaring errors,’ he stressed.
On the team news front, the UD Almería first-team boss confirmed that Bonini is available again after progressing well during the week, while Nico Melamed, who featured against RC Deportivo de La Coruña, is also feeling better. However, there are still notable absences, with Chumi and Lopy sidelined through injury and Chirino suspended, although Rubi pointed out that the list of unavailable players is gradually shrinking.