Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso was asked if his side face a crisis after they were held to a goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano.
Real had made a brilliant start to the season but were beaten in the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek.
And a tame 0-0 draw on Sunday has led to criticism. But Alonso is staying calm.
Is it a crisis? We know where we stand,” Alonso said. “I believe that in both good and bad times, we need to know how to balance things out.
“The season is long and the demands are extremely high, but we live with it and prepare for it.
“After Anfield, we wanted to play a better game today. It’s always difficult to impose our style of play at Vallecas, and anything could have happened in the second half.
“I don’t attribute it to emotional highs and lows; we’re very consistent in our preparation and our mentality. La Liga is one game at a time, and [on Sunday] we couldn’t win.”
Real will see their lead cut if Barcelona beat Celta Vigo in the late game on Sunday.
“I’m concerned about wanting to keep growing, keep improving,” Alonso added.
“To make positive and constructive self-criticism. We all know where we are and what we want. It’s November, there’s still a long way to go, and we have to hold ourselves to high standards.”
