Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says his team must be fully focused on Saturday's La Liga trip to Deportivo La Coruna, and not be distracted by outside considerations including their looming Champions League commitments.
Defending La Liga champions Atletico currently sit third in the table, nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona, with seven games still to play. Simeone's side are unlikely to retain their title, but do look caught up in a battle to finish in the top four -- with Valencia only one point behind, and Sevilla just three points further back.
Such a tight battle to qualify for next year's Champions League means that next Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg of this season's competition against Real Madrid is currently not the highest priority, the Colchoneros coach told his pregame news conference on Friday.
"A few hours before the game in A Coruna, the most important thing is to be in third place, before the Champions League game," Simeone said. "We must play a good game in A Coruna, be strong. We have nothing else in our heads, except the game against Deportivo."
Centre-forward Mario Mandzukic, who returned from an ankle injury to put in a battling performance in Tuesday's scoreless quarterfinal first leg against Madrid, is unlikely to feature against Depor, while midfielder Mario Suarez is also a doubt for the game at Riazor.
"I have not yet decided the starting lineup," Simeone said. "I spoke with the doctor. Mandzukic has pain in his ankle, and Mario has some issues. I hope we can have them both back quickly, to be able to count on all the group."
There is an extra focus on Saturday's game, with Depor ultra Francisco Javier Romero Taboada -- known as "Jimmy" -- having been killed during a preorganised fight with Atletico's ultras before last November's reverse fixture.
Local authorities at first deemed the game not high risk, but then changed their minds and a 450-strong security force, including 200 national police, will be in attendance at and around Riazor.
Asked about this issue, Simeone said his focus was purely on footballing matters.
"We focus on football, I am just interested in what happens on the pitch," he said. "Everything else is external, and we have no influence. We understand [the media] needs to talk about these things, but we just focus on the game. Deportivo played a good game against Real Sociedad, with a very organised 4-4-2, moving the ball forward well."
Depor drew that game at Real Sociedad 2-2 last weekend, the first match in charge for new coach Victor Sanchez del Amo, who had replaced previous boss Victor Fernandez when the Galicians slipped towards the relegation zone after picking up just three points in eight games.
"You could see they were a brave team, with defensive order, and people arriving from midfield into attack," Simeone said. "They have experienced players. It will be a game played with enthusiasm, energy, competition, and we will need to be at our best."