Miranda calls for focus

Atletico Madrid centre-back Miranda has called on his teammates to remain focused ahead of their challenges in the latter stages of the season.

The Spanish outfit advanced into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday at the expense of AC Milan, while they are just three points off the lead in La Liga.

"We are going through a good spell and we want to continue in that vein," Miranda told UEFA's official website.

"We know what our strengths are and we will fight until the end in order to do as well as we can. Whoever we get in the next round will give us difficult games but we have earned more respect after tonight.

"In the league, everyone knows each other now. In the Champions League, teams want to play in another way. We know [at times] we will have to suffer [during matches] but we have the quality needed to get through those moments."

Next up for Atletico is a league clash with Espanyol at the weekend.