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Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone accepted the goalless draw at home to Espanyol was a fair result. His side missed the chance to close the gap on main rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, who drew in the Clasico, but Simeone remained upbeat.
"The game was intense and Espanyol's defensive work was almost perfect," he said.
"In the second half we had chances with [Antoine] Griezmann and [Nicolas] Gaitan but the draw was fair.
"The chances that we had could have been clearer. We controlled the game but we lacked forcefulness."
The draw, which leaves Simeone's side two points behind third-placed Sevilla and nine adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, did not concern the Atletico boss.
"The championship is long and there will be difficulties for everyone. Whoever copes best [with those difficulties] will be closer to the top," he continued.
"But I prefer the think about how my team gave everything, we forced our rival to defend brilliantly and you have to congratulate them.
"They played a good game defensively and we have sometimes done that too -- we have won playing like Espanyol have.
"I have changed absolutely nothing [with respect to their target]. The goal is to finish third -- I am calm."
Espanyol coach Quique Sanchez Flores left the Vicente Calderon a happy man after frustrating his former club.
He said: "We had the two best chances of the match but are happy because I think the team is still competing and being good.
"This is part of the improvement process we are experiencing.
"We are competing in the best league along with the Premier League and it is important to keep clean sheets.
"But it is a job that has only just begun. We are not yet where we want but we will compete."
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