Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone again maintained that third spot in La Liga was his aim for this season after Sunday's straightforward 2-0 win over Granada at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Atletico were not at their best against the struggling Andalucians, but a Mario Mandzukic penalty and late scrambled Raul Garcia effort were enough to bring the three points and keep the defending champions in third as La Liga reached its halfway mark.
After 19 games Atletico are four points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, who have played a game less, and three behind second-placed Barcelona. But they are also closely followed by Valencia, Sevilla and even Villarreal in what the Colchoneros boss told his post-match news conference was turning into a tight race for automatic Champions League qualification next season.
"We are seeing a very tight championship," Simeone said. "There are teams fighting for third spot like Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal... There is a lot of work waiting for us, and we must keep going with the same motivation and intensity. The second half of the season is always more difficult, because everything is on the line, and teams play in a different way."
Atletico's performance was likely affected by having gone to Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to progress in the Copa del Rey last Thursday, and they started the game well below their usual levels of intensity and aggression.
Returning Rojiblancos hero Fernando Torres was rewarded for his two goals at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with a start alongside Mandzukic in attack, and again looked lively and keen to be involved, but without coming close to scoring. The two bustling centre-forwards could play together, Simeone said, although their partnership would need some work.
"Our opponent was well-organised defensively, and we got better as the game went on," Simeone said. "From the 25-minute mark we improved. Mandzukic and Torres are players with different characteristics, and I am leaving happy with how they played."
Simeone's side's next fixture is Wednesday's Copa quarterfinal first leg at Barcelona, but he denied he could do without having so many demanding games at this stage of the season.
"For the fans it is always better to win than lose," he said. "As a kid I was taught that it was better to go through than to be knocked out."
The Argentine also appeared to confirm that Uruguayan winger Cristian "Cebolla" Rodriguez was set to complete a loan move to Serie A side Parma in the near future, as has been widely reported.
"I am open to any situation that could happen in the market," he said. "I cannot say anything about Cebolla, because nobody has said anything officially. He is a player we like, who has always behaved as a great professional for us."