Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone admitted his team came close to showing their best after they beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Atletico youngster Saul Niguez scored a superb solo goal on just 11 minutes and the hosts' drilled defence stood strong even as Bayern dominated possession for long spells.
Bayern's inability to find an away goal means the tie has titled in Atletico's favour ahead of next Tuesday's second leg in Munich, when a similarly tight game is likely.
The Rojiblanco coach told his postgame news conference that his team had played close to their very best at times but only half the job had yet been done.
"This game gives us the chance to play in Munich, in a fantastic stadium, with their fans, their team with so many options, and we will have our opportunities," Simeone said. "We maybe came close to showing the best version of our team, like against Barcelona [in the previous round].
"We imposed the way we want to play the team, against such a high-level team, with so many options, on the bench too. The first half was close to what we wanted in the game, the second was closer to what they had looked for from the start.
"We have only finished the first half of the tie, the second is still to come, it is very important of course."
Simeone said he had been able to follow Saul's movement for the goal, when he beat five Bayern defenders before curling home from 15 yards, and was delighted that the boyhood Atletico fan was being rewarded for the hard work and committment he had shown.
"I could see the move very well, he got away from the first man well, and could keep going," he said. "He went out of sight, and I couldn't see the end of the move, I had to imagine it. When the ball went in we were clearly very happy.
"Saul is in brilliant form, it makes you full of joy to see all that is happening for him. He deserves this for the work he does, the persistence he has shown, the motivation he has. Although he has a lot in which he can improve."
Simeone hailed the commitment and unity within the entire Atletico squad, not just the players who took the pitch today.
"I can tell the fans intimate situations of the group to understand this team," he said. "Tiago is injured but yesterday he asked to be with the team overnight before the game. [Yannick] Carrasco had a really swollen ankle but still wanted to play. Oliver [Torres] had flu and a fever, but he told me he was not able to give the team what it needs. This is the Atletico Madrid of today."