Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid have fallen short of their objectives this season, but conceded it is difficult to compete with the "best team in the world" in Real Madrid.
Although they are set for a fourth-place finish in LaLiga, Los Rojiblancos are 21 points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's newly crowned champions.
Atleti fell to Borussia Dortmund following a 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals, while they were soundly beaten by Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
And as a third successive trophyless season comes to pass at the Metropolitano Stadium, Simeone admits his side could have done better.
"We have the responsibility to get into the Champions League every year. You can be left out, but you can also be champions," he told reporters ahead of Atletico's final LaLiga game of the campaign against Real Sociedad.
"But with Real Madrid, who are the best team in the world and will continue to be because they have rejuvenated the squad, it is not easy.
"We have to keep working at 120 per cent because 100 per cent is not enough, and 80 per cent is even less to be able to get closer to them, keeping in mind that those below us are also improving.
"We were close to the Copa del Rey final and were expecting to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. We created the illusion of being in a possible final, and we weren't able to do it, so now we have to think about what comes next to improve things.
"I have had players who have allowed me to compete as we have done since I arrived, and a coaching staff where everyone who has walked this path has given maximum effort. There is always room for improvement and growth."
Denmark coach Hjulmand ready to go toe-to-toe with Euro 2024 hosts Germany
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand is relishing the opportunity of facing Euro 2024 hosts Germany in the knockout stages of the tournament this Saturday.
The Danes concluded their Group C campaign with a goalless draw against Serbia in Munich, finishing second behind England in the standings.
"The last seven, eight minutes (against Serbia) were just defending, so I think our defence was really good, Hjulmand said after the game.
"We had to fight through the game at the end. But I think we showed character and there are so many things from the game that I'm happy about.
"There are a few things in the attack that we have to tweak in order to succeed but I know that we can we can do that. We have some great players there."
Denmark drew all three of their group games, finishing ahead of Slovenia based on their disciplinary record, ultimately coming down to Milivoje Novakovic, a member of Matjaz Kek's coaching staff, being shown a yellow card against the Danes.
It sets up a meeting with Germany, a side they have failed to beat in their last four meetings, with their last triumph coming in an international friendly in March 2007.
"I really love football here in Germany and playing against Germany with the Danish team, it can't be better, I can't wait. It's a great team. But we're a great team as well. And when we play the big nations, we always step up," Hjulmand said.
Euro 2024 social round-up: Slovenia create history as Maupay pokes fun at England
Two more groups at Euro 2024 concluded on Tuesday as the tournament approaches the end of the first round.
England, Austria, France, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Denmark all confirmed their places in the knockout stage of the competition.
Here, we unpack the best of the day's social media clips from the tournament in Germany.
Austria advance as group winners
Very few gave Austria a chance of emerging from Group D, let alone expected them to finish top ahead of France and the Netherlands.
But Ralf Rangnick masterminded a spectacular display against the Oranje in Berlin to ensure their progression as group winners.
Having endured a difficult spell with Manchester United, the 65-year-old is showing his class on the international stage, and Austria's official account celebrated along with the coach.
Maupay pokes fun at England
Known for his tormenting antics both on and off the pitch, France's Neal Maupay was at it again following England's goalless draw with Slovenia.
The Everton striker was quick to post on social media shortly after full-time in Cologne, posting a GIF of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards to X.
That trio of pundits have been the target of some ire from the England camp for their disparaging comments in recent days.
Ahead of the new Premier League season, this will surely fail to improve Maupay's popularity.
Slovenia create history
England were met with boos when Clement Turpin's final whistle sounded. However, the opposite end of the Cologne Stadium was sheer euphoria.
Despite failing to win a game at Euro 2024, Slovenia's three draws in Group C were enough to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
An incredible achievement for a nation with a population of just 2.1 million and the third-lowest ranked team heading into the tournament.
'Southgate, Southgate, thank you for the point'
While Gareth Southgate may not be the most popular among England fans right now, he certainly has the backing of the Slovenian supporters.
Presenter and reporter Phil Kitromilides posted to X a video of a Slovenian thanking the Three Lions manager for the point that sent his nation through to the knockout stages.
France gaining support from afar
While Les Bleus prepare for the knockout stages of Euro 2024, France legend Thierry Henry is prepping for an entirely different competition.
The former Arsenal striker, who won two major honours with his nation, is in charge of France's Olympic team for the Paris games, and is gearing up to win gold next month.
Both the men's and women's teams were snapped taking a break from preparations to cheer on Didier Deschamps' side against Poland. That match finished 1-1.
Oranje take over Berlin
Despite not knowing what was to come at the Olympiastadion, the travelling Netherlands support were in fine voice ahead of their 3-2 defeat to Austria.
A sea of orange (Oranje) lined the streets of the German capital, performing some impressively synchronised dance moves.
The Dutch fans have been a highlight of the tournament, even if their team have failed to spark.
Germany all smiles ahead of knockout stages
Having secured their qualification to the last 16 with their draw with Switzerland on Sunday, Germany's stars were all smiles in training.
Following the conclusion of Group C, Julian Nagelsmann's side will face Denmark in Dortmund this Saturday, and will be hoping to build on their impressive start.
Onana's inspirational Belgium team talk
With Group E finely poised heading into Matchday 3, Belgium's Amadou Onana provided a motivational team talk for the Red Devils ahead of their meeting with Ukraine.
The midfielder also managed to squeeze in his own rendition of R.Kelly's 'I Believe I Can Fly', and he will be hoping to soar into the knockout stages with Belgium.
Last week, Onana hit out at a reporter who repeatedly called him "Andre", so the Belgian social media department had some fun with that, too.
Spain firing on all cylinders
After maintaining their unbeaten start to their Euros campaign, Luis de la Fuente's side are showing no signs of slowing down ahead of the knockouts.
La Roja posted a video on X showcasing a shooting drill from training, and it looks like they could take some stopping in Germany.
Celebrating Van Basten strike
On this day in 1988, the Netherlands beat the Soviet Union to win the European Championships for the first time in their history.
After Ruud Gullit opened the scoring, Marco van Basten secured the victory with one of the most iconic goals ever scored at the tournament.
And what better way to celebrate it than by recreating the strike with Euro 2024's mascot, Albart.
Euro 2024 data dive: Mbappe finally off the mark, expect (no) goals when England play
Kylian Mbappe finally got going at Euro 2024, though France could not beat Poland.
Austria topped Group D, having defeated the Netherlands.
There was less action in the later matches in Group C, however.
Here, we round up the best statistics from the penultimate group-stage day of Euro 2024.
France 1-1 Poland: Masked Mbappe off the mark
It has been a long time coming, but Mbappe, with what was his 23rd shot, finally scored his first European Championship goal for France, converting a 56th-minute penalty against Poland in Dortmund.
Mbappe brought up his 13th goal for France at major international tournaments (with the previous 12 having come at the World Cup), with only Michel Platini netting more for Les Bleus in the two competitions combined (14).
That goal was also the first to be scored by a French player at Euro 2024, with Les Bleus having beaten Austria thanks to an own goal before they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands.
Mbappe's maiden Euros strike was not enough to secure a French win, though, with Robert Lewandowski levelling an equaliser from the penalty spot for already-eliminated Poland.
Lewandowski became just the third player to score in four different editions of the European Championships after Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, while the 35-year-old is the only player to score at each of the last four Euros (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024).
That being said, Poland have failed to win any of the five games in which Lewandowski has scored at the Euros (drawn four, lost one), the most games a player has scored in while failing to win in the competition's history.
This is the first time France have failed to win their group at a major international tournament since Euro 2012, with Les Bleus having finished as group winners at each of the previous five such tournaments before Euro 2024.
Netherlands 2-3 Austria: Wreck it Ralf
Plumped into a group with the Netherlands and tournament favourites France, Austria weren't fancied by many to come out on top. Well, Ralf Rangnick's side had other ideas.
Marcel Sabitzer became the first Austrian to play 10 matches at the European Championships, scoring his first goal in the competition from his 22nd shot, to seal a 3-2 victory in Berlin.
Austria have scored six goals at Euro 2024, their most in any edition of the tournament and their most in a major tournament since the 1978 World Cup (seven).
It is the first time Austria have won successive Euros matches. They have won four of their last six group stage matches in the competition (lost two), having not won any of their first six such games (drawn two, lost four).
The Netherlands, meanwhile, lost their first group-stage game at the Euros since 2012 against Portugal (2-1), while they last lost a match in the competition despite scoring two or more goals in 2004, against Czechia (3-2).
Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay got the goals for Ronald Koeman's team. Liverpool forward Gakpo has scored five of the Netherlands' last eight group-stage goals at major tournaments (World Cup and Euros), with no other Dutch player netting more than once in those matches.
England 0-0 Slovenia: Expected goals? Forget it
Another game, another unconvincing display from England, though they still finished top of Group C.
This was England’s seventh 0-0 draw at the European Championship (41st game), second only to Italy in the history of the competition (eight in 48 games).
The Three Lions accumulated an expected goals (xG) of just 0.87. Indeed, England's matches at Euro 2024 have produced the fewest xG (2.26 for, 1.13 against).
England's first shot in this match came via Harry Kane in the 30th minute – it was their longest wait for a shot in a match at the Euros since their meeting with Germany in 2000 (35th minute).
Gareth Southgate's team had 74% possession, which was the highest figure they have recorded in a major tournament match in which they failed to score.
Slovenia (57th) are the lowest-ranked side England have ever faced in a match at a major tournament since the FIFA ranking was introduced.
However, this result ensures Slovenia will be in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed sides.
Both Slovenia and Denmark drew all three of their Group C games; only once previously had a side drew all three of their group games in a single edition of the Euros, with Portugal doing so in 2016. Could Slovenia go on and replicate the Selecao's triumph? Surely not...
Denmark 0-0 Serbia: Eriksen's milestone appearance
Denmark could perhaps have been a tad braver against Serbia, and if they had, then they might have avoided Germany in the last 16.
As it is, they will play the hosts after a goalless draw with Serbia, who exited the competition in the process.
Christian Eriksen featured again and, in the process, became Denmark's record appearance maker, with 133 caps.
Eriksen created another two chances to add to his total haul of 13 at Euro 2024, the most-ever by a Danish player at a major tournament on record.
Denmark have drawn all three of their group games for the first time ever at a major tournament, while in all competitions, it is the first time the Danes have strung three draws together in a row since a run of four in June 2019.
Serbia are now without a victory in their last eight major tournament matches, since a 1-0 win over Costa Rica at the 2018 World Cup, their joint longest winless run at major tournaments.
They mustered just one shot on target, with their total haul of six shots on target at Euro 2024 their lowest-ever figure as an independent nation at a major tournament.
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