Almería’s Rubi Previews Elche Clash: Aiming for a Pointed Victory
Coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Rubi spoke this Saturday ahead of Monday’s match against Elche CF at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. He emphasized that not competing would be a disappointment, recalling how his team had approached a prior meeting. The recent LaLiga Santander clash against Real Madrid ended 1-2, marking a difficult but instructive week for the squad.
He stressed that the outcome is not determined by facing Elche alone. Every goal matters, and even in a league known for its parity, a failure to score compounds the sense of letdown. In Rubi’s view, the competition in the league is fierce and unpredictable, where some teams exhibit such balance that outcomes hinge on small margins.
The Catalan coach reflected on the season as a developing story where the team must try to reproduce the level of performance shown against the league’s strongest sides. A week earlier, they delivered a performance that suggested potential for consistency, and Rubi believes his squad can translate that effort across games, at least in the short term.
Rubi maintained that the side is improving daily. While improvement does not guarantee results, the objective for Elche is clear: secure three points. The coach framed it as a step toward alleviating the unrest within the squad and moving forward with confidence. He stated that the earliest victory would help the team break a mental block and propel them toward a steadier season path.
However, uncertainty remains around transfer status, with six players not yet registered. Rubi cautioned that Elche will surely push hard to claim something from the contest. After a debut defeat to Betis, he asserted that a strong performance would inevitably yield points for Almería, underscoring the link between performance and results as the season progresses.
Turning to Ilicitanos, Rubi noted the start against Betis was tough but not entirely representative, especially since one player was missing in the build-up. He added that Valero would present a stern test and that the match would be highly competitive from the opening minutes. It would require Elmería to be highly focused and ready to respond to Elche’s early pressure.
Rubi insisted that his core objective remains straightforward: ensure the players see Elche’s lineup as a challenge Madrid would pose, driving the team to maximize effort and precision with the ball. The emphasis was on hard work and tactical discipline to solve each game, while also executing effectively when possession is secured.
Regarding tactics, Rubi did not commit to a specific system for the fixture, acknowledging that there are multiple viable variants. He also touched on the upcoming transfer window, expressing a preference for the league’s calendar to align with the closing of the market. He argued that alignment would provide clarity for all clubs and reduce distractions during the season’s outset. If the market closes as the league starts, he noted, changes would come in a compressed timeline, affecting squad planning and on-pitch performance.
Rubi concluded with a candid reflection on the practical realities of football during the opening weeks of the season. His message was simple: focus on the task, manage the players’ welfare, and ensure that any new arrivals integrate smoothly so the squad can perform at their best. The path to improvement, he argued, lies in consistent effort and tactical readiness rather than speculation about personnel movements alone.