Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side had suffered at times but their quality came through at the end of Friday night's 4-1 La Liga win at Almeria.
Madrid stretched their record winning run in all competitions to 20 games through goals from Isco, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo (two), but were thankful for a penalty save from Iker Casillas which came with the score at 2-1 midway through the second half.
The Blancos coach told reporters at the Estadio Juegos Mediterraneos after the game that Almeria's pressing game had disrupted his side, although their greater fire-power had told in the end.
"Almeria pressured us a lot," Ancelotti said. "But our quality came out and in the end we deserved to win. Although it is true we did have some problems in the game."
With coach Francisco having been fired following last weekend's 5-2 loss at Eibar, caretaker Miguel Rivera was in charge of Almeria for this game, ahead of ex-Levante and Vallodolid boss Juan Ignacio Martinez taking full-time charge on Saturday.
Ancelotti said the Andalucian side, who had taken just two points from their eight previous games, had been extra motivated due to the change on the bench this week.
"It was not about the system," he said. "They worked a lot, pressured us a lot. We had difficulty in having spells of relaxed possession of the ball, we misplaced some passes. But in the end we controlled the game well."
Madrid now move on to the Club World Cup, with the squad flying out for Morocco on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday's semifinal against either CONCACAF Champions League winners Cruz Azul of Mexico or AFC Champions League winners Western Sydney Wanderers, who meet on Saturday.
The Italian coach said the aim was, of course, to now go and finish a good 2014 for the Bernabeu side with another trophy.
"Of course, every competition that we play, we try and win it," Ancelotti said. "So the mood is good, the moment is good, to win the Club World Cup."