Atletico Madrid objective is to finish third - Koke

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke says it is the club's
objective to finish third in La Liga rather than fight for the
title.

Atletico surrendered the lead in the table following a 0-0
draw at home to Sevilla on Sunday, while Barcelona
triumphed 2-1 away to Malaga on Saturday to claim top
spot with a superior goal difference.

However, Koke is not worried, claiming the side only have
their eyes on finishing third.

"Our objective is to be third," he told Movistar Plus .

"We have always said this. But now we have to continue.

"In the next round we go to Barcelona and we will give
everything and see what happens."

 Koke lamented the side's inability to find the back of the net
in their scoreless draw with Sevilla.

"The team had chances. The only thing left was that they
didn't go in," he added.

"One from [Antoine] Griezmann hit the post and another
chance.

"But that is football. The ball did not go in and we have to
keep working hard."

Atletico's next test is in the Copa del Rey when they front up
against Celta da Vigo for the second-leg of the quarter-final,
with the scores locked at 0-0.

"Now we have to prepare for the Copa against a difficult
opponent that made things hard for us in the first game," he
said.

"But we are playing in our stadium, with our fans and we are
confident of advancing to the next round."