Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola admits Europe is a target this season.
Rayo meet Elche this weekend.
Iraola said, "That must be demonstrated on the green. Going out here to say we want this or that is very easy, but you have to prove it. We are competing well. We have to be mentally very involved in the games.
"We play in Elche, then Valladolid comes again... We must be very committed to the task we have on the pitch and not stray too far from what football is. Outside noise is not what will get us to the goal."
Aske if qualifying for Europe will help his contract talks, Iraola added: The situation of how we are going to manage it is quite clear. We are going to try to win these two games because to be able to get into that fight at the top, no other result is worth it.
"Those above lose little and take advantage of us. Only winning both would allow us to fight with them at the end of the season.'