Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini dismissed claims his side were ever title challengers after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Sevilla.Villarreal had climbed to second in the Primera Liga standings after taking 20 points from a possible 24 in recent weeks, leaving them six points behind leaders Real Madrid and one point ahead of third-placed Barcelona heading into the weekend's fixtures.

With Madrid being held to a 1-1 draw by Real Mallorca on Saturday, Villarreal could have reduced the pacesetters' advantage with a win over Sevilla, but it was not to be and Pellegrini admitted afterwards his side's focus was always more on clinching a Champions League place rather than the title.

"We've never been candidates for the league," he said.

"You can say that we are candidates for second place because Madrid are six points ahead and it is a big lead. We have our feet on the ground."

Pellegrini also had few complains about his side's defeat to Sevilla, with goals from Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute earning the impressive home side all three points.

"Sevilla have been better than us physically, in creating goal chances and in defensive security," he added.

"In football there are circumstances which can change the result. We could have made it 1-1 but we need to accept the defeat and not look for excuses. We need to recognise that Sevilla were better.

"It is never easy to come to the Pizjuan. I wish we could have cut the distance to Madrid but our aim is to maintain second place and continue in the Champions League places. The rest is a dream."

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