Simeone wants to finish LaLiga 'in best way possible' ahead of Club World Cup

Atletico host Real Sociedad on Saturday, knowing that they will likely finish no higher than third, having been cut adrift of Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top.

Nevertheless, Simeone has urged his side to not look too far ahead, despite the Club World Cup beginning in a month's time.

"It's not so easy [to think about the Club World Cup], because the focus is not the same," said Simeone at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"We have to finish these last four games in the best way possible.

"We have the responsibility, especially playing in front of our fans, so let's hope that they will demand more from us tomorrow, because obviously that demand will make us enter the game better, and hopefully it will lead us to give our all."

Osasuna, Real Betis and Girona are Atletico's final opponents in LaLiga, before they face Paris Saint-Germain, the Seattle Sounders and Botafogo at the Club World Cup.

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Atletico began the season very strongly, with just one defeat from their opening 19 matches, which ignited hopes of a third LaLiga title under Simeone, but they have fallen away after a poor second half of the season.

They also went close in other competitions, losing in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey to Barcelona and going out on penalties versus Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Simeone believes his side's 2-1 defeat away to Getafe in February, which saw them miss the chance to go top of LaLiga, was a crucial turning point in their season.

"I think we competed very well in LaLiga until February or March," Simeone said.

"The game that probably hurt us the most was at Getafe. After that came the elimination from the Champions League, then [a defeat against] Barcelona in La Liga.

"Until that moment, the feeling was that the team was doing very well.