Mohamed El Assy: "The UD Almería project is still alive"

'The UD Almería project is still alive,' stated Club Managing Director Mohamed El Assy and right-hand man of the UD Almería president and owner Turki Alalshikh in the press conference once the January transfer window is over. He answered the local press questions clearly for an hour and twenty minutes with confidence. Mr El Assy stated that he was satisfied with the transfers and signings in the squad and pointed out: 'I think we've done everything we could to continue fighting for top-tier safety. The situation is what it is, but we haven't got relegated yet and while 'We have opportunities, we'll fight to stay up.' He then added: 'We have to get that first victory that will change out mindset because there are still chances to secure league survival. There isn't any document yet that states that UD Almería are going to play next year in the Segunda Division.'

The Club CEO highlighted: 'Everything bad that can happen to a club over the course of several years we've been together can happen in just one season,' remembering the unfortunate injuries, referees' ruling, bad luck... I can say that our squad is the best in our history. It's incredible that we only have 6 points, we can't believe it. To demonstrate this with data, 10 of our players have had offers to sign for great teams in Europe.' Furthermore, he showed his strong support for the current head coach by arguing: 'Sometimes football isn't fair, but even so there are also things that can be seen. With Gaizka Garitano we're better physically, we pushed until the end, we endured much longer in the games… The first day he started he counted on only 11 players considering the FIFA calendar and injuries. He's never made excuses and fought and he does his best for this Club, even without having had forwards.'

The UD Almería Managing Director did not understand the attitude of former gaffer Vicente Moreno this campaign: 'I don't want to spark off controversy, but he behaves as if he were an amateur coach and shows us that we made a mistake by taking him on.' 

Moreover, Mr El Assy indicated that the UD Almería Sports Complex project will be announced in briefly (in case there was any doubt, the Dreambeach festival occupies only part of the land acquired in 'El Toyo' area and does not interfere in the Academy) and that the second phase of the Stadium works will take place depending on which tier UD Almería play next season and the economic situation, although assured that it will be carried out in the short or medium term because there is a specific period of time to complete it as stipulated in the contract with the Almería City Council. 

'We're interested in doing it as soon as possible because of the benefits it entails, but we must evaluate the things,' he explained. He did not rule out, in case of relegation and not facing this second phase, return to the bleachers. 'We're here to make our fans happy, although I don't think that all fans will be bothered by this issue,' he commented.

Mohamed El Assy sent a message to the UD Almería fans and the citizens in general, who support UD Almería: 'The Club isn't going to be sold and we aren't going to leave. This is not a small project. It isn't a restaurant or a store that goes wrong and you shut it down. This is something very big to which we dedicate many hours, many efforts, a lot of money, a lot of sacrifice… My personal work team and I have left our home country and our families for 5 years. We cannot say that it's over out of the blue. We'll never leave until we complete the great project and the promises that we made.'

The Club CEO reflected: 'With all due respect,  there isn't anything else to be done that we haven't already done. I think we're having a lot of bad luck right now, but if we take a step back and we look at it with perspective, what we've achieved during this short journey is incredible and unrepeatable. God has had to help us, but perhaps it's due to the hard work we've done. Anyone can see where UD Almería were before Turki Alalshikh arrived and now. If we turned back time to 2019 and tried to repeat this, it'd be impossible. It's been very hard and we cannot give up. In our short existence we've always been successful and this is the first rough patch, in which we have to stick together as we were in the good times.' 

Mohamed El Assy stressed, speaking about the president and owner: 'Turki is a person who has given a lot to Almería city, the Club, both in terms of marketing, donations... and hasn't received nothing in return. He considers the Club as his own, as a son, and he'll look after it for sure. You have to respect him and recognise everything he's doing.' Then he added: 'If he had to sell the Club, he would only sell it for a large amount of money and to a person who can improve our work, but it'd never happen while in Segunda Division, but in the top tier and having completed the project that he promised.'