FC Andorra Coach Urges Maturity and Identity Ahead of Tough Almería Clash

**FC Andorra Coach Calls for Maturity and Identity in Tough Almería Test**

FC Andorra travel to face fourth-placed Almería on Friday at 20:30 in the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, kicking off Jornada 26 of LaLiga Hypermotion. The Tricolors sit 16th with 29 points, two clear of Huesca's 27 in the relegation zone. Only five points from their last 18 available—including a 1-2 home defeat to Reial Societat B—has tightened the pressure, though playing first in the round offers some buffer before potential rivals respond. Strong winds in Catalonia disrupted plans, shifting Thursday's training to Estadi Comunal from Sant Cugat's CAR before a flight from El Prat airport to Andalusia.

Coach Carles Manso, flanked by owner Gerard Piqué and Jaume Nogués at Thursday's press conference in Nou Estadi de la FAF in Encamp, stressed patience in a developing project. "We have just been promoted, and being in this mid-to-lower area is what we face for now until we get the project in order to be ambitious," he said. The week brought internal review after the Reial Societat B loss, with the squad confronting inconsistency and frustration without possession. "When we don't have control, it seems everything is at risk, but that's not the case. We must not get frustrated," Manso said, pointing to positive displays against Valladolid and Deportivo as evidence that sticking to identity yields results.

Maintaining essence tops his concerns. "What worries me most is that we stop being ourselves. Being unstable keeps us from scoring and exposes us to conceding," he added. Maturity is key to staying in contention: "We lack that maturity we've not had to stay close to the three points." Manso anticipates suffering at times against Almería's high-pressing, high-line style—second in the league with 47 goals in 25 matches, boasting "differential players who could play in Primera División." He expects a balanced matchup similar to December's 2-1 Nou Estadi loss, where Sergio Arribas scored twice and Manu Nieto replied. "It will be a duel of equals," Manso said.

Injuries hit hard: Edgar González is unavailable due to his loan clause with Almería until 2028; Álex Calvo faces four weeks out with a right biceps femoris tear; Manu Nieto six weeks for a grade II left knee ligament sprain. Five players—Carrique, Villahermosa, Minsu, Jastin, Olabarrieta—near suspension ahead of Zaragoza. Almería regain Dzodic from suspension but lack Nico Melamed, Dioni Lopy (injured), and Soko (personal reasons). Manso hinted at changes to reward form, including a possible 3-5-2 that worked early against Castelló. He praised Marc Cardona's growing threat, managed carefully post-layoff, and noted Minsu's fit amid competition.

Almería's Rubi praised Andorra as league leaders in possession with a "very defined, proactive, brave" style. "We'll try to take the ball away because that's our essence too, but we won't get nervous," he said.

Probable lineups: Almería (Andrés Fernández; Luna, Monte, Bonini, Álex Muñoz; Dzodic, André Horta, Embarba, Morcillo, Arribas, De la Fuente); FC Andorra (Yaakobishvili; Carrique, Gael Alonso, Molina, Martí Vilà; Akman, Villahermosa, Théo Le Normand; Yeray, Minsu, Marc Cardona). Referee: Germán Cid Camacho.