Diego Simeone has predicted this season will be full of "beautiful and difficult moments" as he looks to guide Atletico Madrid to a first LaLiga title since the 2013-14 campaign.
A 1-0 win over Barcelona on Saturday lifted Los Colchoneros up to second in LaLiga, only behind Real Sociedad, who have played two games more.
That victory extended Atletico's unbeaten run to 24 LaLiga games, and with Barca and Real Madrid failing to convince this season, Atletico look well-placed to push for a first title since 2014.
🎙 @Simeone & @AngelCorrea32 are here to preview #AtletiLokomotiv!
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) November 24, 2020
❝It will be a hard game against a side that works very well.❞
🔴⚪ #AúpaAtleti | ⭐ #UCL pic.twitter.com/7TSQZbNYU9
Simeone, though, is refusing to get carried away and insists he is taking things one game at a time.
"We are doing well, which means everyone is surrounding us and watching us," he told a media conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group A clash against Lokomotiv Moscow.
"But let's not get confused. This cannot lead us to a state that we don't need to be in. I do not understand any way of thinking other than game by game.
"That does not mean I do not have other aspirations, but we can only concentrate on what is going to happen to us tomorrow.
"I always say the same thing, year after year. The important thing is when the season ends and if the goal was met, if it was exceeded or if we could not fulfil it.
"This road will be full of beautiful and difficult moments. That is where the team's work and consistency has to be seen, which is the most difficult thing to maintain."
Atleti are second in Group A, two points ahead of Lokomotiv after one win in their opening three games.
The two sides drew 1-1 in Moscow three weeks ago and, despite Lokomotiv never having won an away game against Spanish opponents in European competition, Simeone expects a robust test against Marko Nikolic's side in Madrid.
"Tomorrow is an important game, against a team that works well on defensive tactics and with a good counter-attack," he added.
"We have to be focused and take the game where we want to do damage. In Russia we could not take advantage of the chances we had.
"It will be a tough match. We prepare with the same objective, which is to win."
