Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone praised his team's strength in depth after Wednesday evening's 2-2 draw at Eibar sent them through 5-2 on aggregate to the Copa del Rey semifinals.
After a goalless first half at Ipurua, Jose Maria Gimenez headed in powerfully from a corner kick to maintain Atletico's control of the tie. Eibar then came back to go ahead on the night through goals from substitutes Sergi Enrich and Pedro Leon, before Juanfran's clever lob made it all square.
The Colchoneros coach had made seven changes to his starting XI from last weekend's 2-2 La Liga draw at Athletic Bilbao, and told his postmatch news conference that he was delighted that the 2013 Copa winners were into the last four of the competition again.
"The competition for places inside the team is very good, and that brings us a nice opportunity to play in the semifinals, something you do not get to do every day," Simeone said. "It's the second time since I've been in charge that we have got to the last four. We always fight to win every competition."
The Argentine coach said that it had not been easy for his players to reach their usual intensity given they began on the night 3-0 ahead from last week's first leg at the Calderon.
"It was not easy to compete as they did given the result from the first leg," Simeone said. "The game was intense and entertaining. In the first leg we were more efficient in front of goal, and tonight [Angel] Correa had a chance to make it 2-0. Then they improved and turned it around. What I take from the game is the draw and our intention to go for the game and win it."
Speaking on BeIn Sports after the final whistle, Juanfran said his side were just happy to have made it into the last four.
"We wanted to win as we always do," he said. "But this result is enough to make the semis. We are very happy. It was not an easy game, we were intense as always, so we are very happy."
In the last round, Atletico also rocked late in the second leg, conceding goals to Las Palmas before going through anyway, something which Juanfran said was down to relaxation with the tie under control.
"It is always important for us to be strong defensively," he said. "We relaxed a bit when we went in front, they came back into it. But we equalised and we must be positive we are through to the last four."
The former Real Madrid youth teamer refused to say which teams he would like or not like to meet in the next round.
"All the teams in the draw will be very difficult," Juanfran said. "Whoever it is we will take them on the same way, with the same ambition and intensity. They will also be wary about playing Atletico Madrid."