‘We have to walk out onto the pitch to win no matter what; there is no other way’
José Gomes acknowledged that to be promoted you have to take three points at a time and hopes that his team ‘will show what we really are’
José Gomes, UD Almería head coach, concluded the pre-match virtual press conference given the day before hosting Cartagena to reflect on the beginnings of UD Almeria former head coach Unai Emery, who also suffered three consecutive defeats in the first match weeks of a past season that ended up with the Rojiblancos’ team gaining promotion to the top flight. ‘If they would not have had patience back then, what team would Emery be working with and where would Almería currently be?’ questioned the Lusitanian coach after reading a 2006 press article on one of the stadium facilities room’s wall.
José Gomes also agreed with the idea that there is no doubt that in order to get promoted you have to win three points at a time, and we have no choice but to walk out onto the pitch on Wednesday determined to win no matter what.’ He knows that a victory can and must change the dynamics as long as ‘we show what we really are…a team with quality, intensity…’ This week not only has wounded the players’ ego but also has hurt their pride so that they react and there is not so much difference ‘between the attitude that is put in training and the one we show later in the games.’
Jose Gomes is very clear on the way to follow to succeed ‘we have to block the goal to avoid conceding goals, and above all, as he explained, ‘break the opponent's defensive line with effective line-breaking passes. If we don't shoot at goal, we can't score’, an aspect that is ‘a common denominator in the defeats we have suffered.’
There will be some changes in the starting XI when facing Cartagena aiming to adjust some things without blaming on anyone. Of course, he made it very clear that ‘there will be no revolution’, as he was asked.
He was full of praise for the next adversaries Cartagena and the work that their head coach, Borja Jiménez is doing. We have the utmost respect for them and it will certainly be difficult to outplay them. They close their lines brilliantly so as not to let their opponents play, and they have a lot of fluidity in their game up front. We have to counteract their virtues and enhance ours.’
The Lusitanian gaffer settled any controversy about discrepancies in the dressing room, and he did it emphatically: ‘There’s no debate; there is a feeling of togetherness and a good atmosphere. All what the players have to do is train, work and keep quiet… if someone has something to say, do so privately.’