Diego Simeone was satisfied with Atletico Madrid's 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, even though it saw them lose further ground in the race for direct Champions League qualification next term.
Atletico went 1-0 up on just three minutes when Koke's cross-shot found the net, but Athletic equalised just before half-time through Inigo Lekue's piledriver and went ahead soon after the break through Oscar De Marcos' header, before Antoine Griezmann's superb 25-yard strike equalised with 10 minutes remaining.
Simeone told his postmatch news conference that his team had played well in parts and he had to be happy with the draw.
"I am leaving satisfied as we continue to improve in each game, so that we get results," Simeone said. "I believe that in the first 30 minutes, and then at the end of the game, were very good from us.
"It was an emotional game and swung back and forward. We could have done more damage at 1-0 up, but we also saw that they could hurt us."
At the half-way point of the season, the 2013-14 champions are now eight points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, and are also well behind second-placed Sevilla and Barcelona in third.
Atletico have finished in the top three in each of the Argentine's four previous full seasons in charge, but now face the prospect of, at best, having to play a Champions League qualifier next August, amid doubts over whether their new Wanda Metropolitano stadium will be ready by then.
"We are seven points behind third spot, after an inconsistent first half of the season," Simeone said. "Sevilla have a big advantage for getting into the Champions League."
Speaking on Beinsports after the game, Koke said that the point apiece was a "fair" outcome, while lamenting missed chances to go two goals ahead when his team were on top in the first half.
"It was a nice game, very intense, from both sides," he said. "The draw was a fair result. We always want to win, it's never good to lose points. We were ahead in the game, in control, had chances to score more and we did not take advantage. They came back into it and a great goal from Antoine got us the draw."