Both Aguirre and the players felt the wrath of the angry Atletico fans after slumping to a deserved defeat that could seriously jeopardise their hopes of playing Champions League football next season.

Atletico started the match in fourth place, one point ahead of Racing Santander, but the Cantabrian side will move into the Champions League spots if they beat leaders Real Madrid on Sunday.

The home fans at the Vicente Calderon were far from impressed throughout the match, and many of them spent the final 10 minutes whistling, jeering and waving white handkerchiefs in disgust at their side's display.

"I am ultimately responsible for what happens, because I say who plays and how they play. I am the one in charge. It is not (president) Enrique Cerezo nor the players, it is me," said Aguirre.

But while the supporters may have lost faith in their team, Aguirre has not, saying: "We have 54 points. I believe in my team, although I respect the public does not. We have two homes games remaining in which we have to try and clean this image that we have given, and away from home try to play better.

"Now we have to get our heads focused on obtaining points. Our obligation is to continue with the aim that we have here, which is to get a Champions League place. The team thinks the same.

"We are annoyed because we lost the advantage we had over our rivals. Now there is no margin for error."

Atletico striker Diego Forlan added: "I understand the attitude of the fans. They were hopeful of obtaining three points and it is logical that they leave the stadium angry.

"They have every right to freely express their opinion. We know that we have lost many points which could prove expensive, but now the best thing is to rest and after Monday focus on the game against Getafe.

"We cannot think about what our rivals are doing, and we need to only think about ourselves."