Real Madrid honcho Jose Mourinho admitted that his charges had to endure a tense finale in their 3-2 win against Getafe.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened Madrid's account with a penalty before German midfielder Mesut Ozil doubled their lead but Getafe replied through Daniel Parejo.
Another Ronaldo strike seemed to have ended the home side's resistance but Alvaro Arbeloa's sending off coupled with a Juan Albin goal meant that Madrid had to survive a late Getafe onslaught.
Speaking to the club's official website after the match, Mourinho conceded that his side could have imploded right at the end.
Mourinho elaborated: "I always felt the game was strange...
At the start, it looked we could win 3-0 or 4-0, but by the end of the first half I felt like we had lost control."We had a good start to the second half and it looked like we could be calmer in the match, but Getafe's goals and the red card we saw made us feel anything could happen in the final moments of the game. The clash could have had two completely different outcomes."
"We took three points in the end, which is what we've been doing all through this season.
"We took three points in the end, which is what we've been doing all through this season.
"We've won 14 of the 17 games we've played so far in La Liga, and we earned five victories and one draw in the first round of the Champions League.
"If we keep this up we will reach the end of all three championships. It is in the essence of this team to fight to the end."
"We didn't have our usual concentration level tonight. We normally are a tighter side. We gave our opponent room to attack. Getafe are a creative and dynamic team with players that are technically very good."
"We didn't have our usual concentration level tonight. We normally are a tighter side. We gave our opponent room to attack. Getafe are a creative and dynamic team with players that are technically very good."
The Portuguese chief also explained his decision to haul off midfield enforcer Lassana Diarra.
He said: "I replaced Lass because he didn't seem to be doing too well in a match that was beginning to be marked by transitions and one-on-ones. I also noticed the referee hesitated at times regarding bookings and that he seemed to have a different criteria for each team."
The game also marked the symbolic return of Brazilian wizard Kaka, who stepped into the fray in the 75th minute to make his league debut and mark the end of his six month injury jinx.
Mourinho added: "Kaka has recovered from his injury, but his functional recovery is a different matter. He still hasn't reached his full potential. His return is great news for Real Madrid, for the Spanish league and for world football.
Mourinho added: "Kaka has recovered from his injury, but his functional recovery is a different matter. He still hasn't reached his full potential. His return is great news for Real Madrid, for the Spanish league and for world football.
"He is a super player who hasn't really played in Spain because he spent a whole year practically injured and six months completely injured.
"He is ready to play 15 minutes now, he will be able to play 20 against Levante, 25 against Villarreal, and he will gradually recover this way. It's great news. He is as happy as if he were making his debut as a professional. We are all very happy."
The result moved Madrid to within two points of table-toppers and defending Primera Liga champions Barcelona.
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