Mario Suarez believes that Atletico Madrid deserve respect for their performances this season.

The Spanish outfit have lost four of their last six games in all competitions, but are just three points off first position in La Liga, and beat AC Milan 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash last week.

"We've been underestimated in many regards. They said he didn't have a chance of winning and in the end we went on to win all the titles we've won," he told reporters at a press conference.

"They also said we didn't have a chance at winning La Liga. In August, they said that we'd fall off and we're in March and we're still there.

"The other day, things didn't work out the way we wanted and Osasuna came out very well. They are strong and reacted very well."

Atletico face Real Madrid at the Calderon this weekend.