Simeone pushing Atletico to close the gap to LaLiga top two

Diego Simeone has urged his Atletico Madrid players to finish their LaLiga season on a high and close the gap to the top after falling short in their pursuit of the title.

Atletico had genuinely threatened to challenge for the top-flight crown this campaign, even leading the table at the midway stage of the season.

However, a run of three games without a win in March, as well as their exit from the Champions League to Real Madrid in the same month, saw them fall short.

Simeone's team sit third in the standings, five points behind Madrid and a further 12 behind leaders Barcelona, who could clinch the title as early as Wednesday.

Barca face Espanyol on Thursday, but know that if Madrid are unable to beat Mallorca on Wednesday, then a 28th top-flight crown will be the Blaugrana's.

Atletico make the trip to the Estadio El Sadar to face Espanyol in their penultimate away league game of the term, a team they have beaten in 12 of their last 13 games.

"In every season we take steps, last year with the arrival of players, and next year we are going to do it the same way, always thinking about improving," Simeone said.

Atletico, along with Madrid, are the two teams representing Spain at the Club World Cup, which takes place from June 14 to July 13.

The expanded 32-team tournament is in the United States with a reported $1 billion in prize money at stake.

"The money at stake is for those who are thinking about that competition," Simeone said.

"For us, it's a very nice tournament, it's exciting to represent Atletico, and we hope to get there in the best way."

Simeone was also asked about Carlo Ancelotti, who will leave Madrid at the end of the season to become Brazil's new national team head coach.

The Argentine has faced Ancelotti 28 times across all competitions in his managerial career, winning nine of those matches.

Indeed, Simeone has suffered more defeats to Ancelotti (11) than any other manager he has faced, with Luis Enrique second on the list (nine defeats).

Ancelotti leaves Madrid as the club's most successful boss, having won 15 major honours across two stints, and is set to be replaced by Xabi Alonso.

"As a coach, we all have admiration for his work, not only for everything he managed at Real Madrid, but for his entire sporting career," Simeone added.

"I'm an admirer of his. I love him very much, he knows that, and I wish him all the best."