Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hailed three more valuable points after his team kept pace with La Liga's title contenders by beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Saturday evening.
Simeone had made seven changes to the XI which beat Bayern Munich at the Calderon in last Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg, and a relegation-threatened Rayo had the better chances during the first half.
Atletico's young side held on for the three points which lifted them top of the standings for a few hours above Real Madrid, who won 1-0 at Real Sociedad earlier on Saturday.
Simeone told his postgame news conference that his more experienced substitutes had made the difference, and he was happy with how his team had kept their focus.
"In general we went for fresh players, and as time went on put in those we thought were necessary," Simeone said. "The game went as we had imagined, and we have taken an important victory in at a time when the points count for much more than at any other stage of the season.
"When the games are coming all in a row, when it is not easy to keep your focus, it is very important to win, we did that, and we are very happy."
Simeone watched the game from the stands, as he serves the first game of a three-match suspension imposed after a second ball entered the pitch to stop a Malaga attack last weekend at the Calderon.
TV pictures during the game appeared to show the Argentine communicating with colleagues on the touchline, which could bring an additional punishment from the authorities, but he did not comment on this when facing the press after the game.
Atletico's fourth 1-0 win in a row in all competitions also means they have now gone 510 minutes without conceding, even as Simeone has rotated his squad to keep fighting on two fronts.
"It was tough at the start, not because we had many players who are not regulars, but because we lacked the necessary intensity," the former Atletico player said. "Rayo were playing for a lot, controlled the game, and had their chances close to our area."
Rarely used players Luciano Vietto and Oliver Torres got a chance to start but looked off the pace of the game, and were whistled by some at the Calderon before being withdrawn early.
"For sure with Vietto I am responsible, he does not have regular playing time, as with Griezmann, Torres and [Angel] Correa I cannot give him more minutes," Simeone said.
"If you say Vietto had a bad game, I am responsible for not having played him more."
