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 champio…

While Manchester City might have thought they had a golden chance to lay down another marker on Saturday evening, the Premier League leaders eventually suffered what was an action-packed 3-2 defeat at home against Tottenham.

Despite storming their way to a stunning Champions League romp out in Portugal a few days ago, the Sky Blues rather drastically failed to build off of that momentum as they eventually fell to their first domestic defeat since the end of October.

Watching their buffer at the top of the table get cut down to just six points, there is no doubt that Saturday s display at the Etihad has breathed life back into Tottenham s charge for a top-four finish this season.

With England skipper Harry Kane really breaking Manchester City s hearts after a rem…

Swansea City captain Ashley Williams is ready to talk if Napoli make an approach for his services, according to the player s agent.

Reports in Italy this week suggested that Napoli coach Rafael Benitez was preparing to make an offer after being impressed by the defender during the Italian club s UEFA Europa League meetings with Swansea.

Williams, who is out of contract at the end of the end of next season, has long been linked with a transfer to Arsenal, but a switch to Serie A could tempt him.

His agent, Peter Smith, however, insists that talk of a move to Italy is just speculation at present.

There has been talk of meetings with the club or with Rafa Benitez, but there s no truth in that at the moment, Smith told Napoli Calcio Live.

Clearly we are talking…

Germany head coach Hansi Flick is confident Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz can return just as strong after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 18-year-old sustained the damage in Saturday s 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Cologne when twisting awkwardly on the turf 28 minutes into the contest.

Wirtz has earned four senior caps for Germany, having made his debut last September, but is now in a battle to be fit and ready for the World Cup in November.

The news is a big blow for Flick ahead of his first tournament in charge of Germany, but the ex-Bayern Munich boss has faith that Wirtz will make a full recovery.

He is one of the greatest talents that German football has produced in recent years, Flick told the DFB s official website. 

…

Real Madrid are interested in signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, according to . The report has claimed that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Madrid are looking for young talents, and that Ferguson is on their radar.

Ferguson is one of the best young strikers and has been very impressive in the Premier League with Brighton. The Republic of Ireland international striker has made 25 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The 18-year-old has scored 10 goals and given two assists in those games.

Madrid are at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 15 points from five matches. Meanwhile, Brighton currently find themselves fifth in the Premier League table with 12 points from five matches, just three points behind lea…

Harry Kane showed Manchester City what they missed out on with a sensational double as Tottenham stunned the Premier League leaders 3-2 in a frantic finale on Saturday. 

England captain Kane was heavily linked with a move to City in the close season and sat out Spurs season-opening win over Pep Guardiola s side before eventually staying put. 

The Tottenham talisman played a role in Dejan Kulusevski opening his Spurs account this time, and then Kane put the visitors back in front after Ilkay Gundogan s equaliser. 

Riyad Mahrez s stoppage-time penalty appeared to have salvaged a draw for City, but Kane headed home in the fifth added minute to leave the champions advantage over Liverpool at the summit at six points, having played a game more.

Tottenham…

Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini will address the Congress of European Football s governing body on Wednesday.

UEFA will announce Platini s successor at its 12 Extraordinary Congress in Athens and the former France international has had a request to attend the event accepted.

Platini resigned as UEFA chief in May after the Court of Arbitration for Sport elected not to overturn his ban from all football-related activity.

The suspension, relating to a $2 million (£1.3m) disloyal payment made by then FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in 2011, was reduced from six to four years. The 61-year-old denies any wrongdoing.

The FIFA Ethics Committee has informed UEFA that Michel Platini will be allowed to address the 12th Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Athens …

Zenit have thanked Luciano Spalletti for his role in the recent development of the Russian club despite sacking him on Monday.

Spalletti was fired in the wake of a goalless Russian Premier League home draw against strugglers Tom Tomsk.

Zenit have won just one of their last six league matches and have dropped to second in the table, two points behind Lokomotiv Moscow and face elimination from the UEFA Champions League after a 4-2 last-16 first-leg defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the Petrovsky Stadium.

We wish to thank Luciano Spalletti for all that he s done for the development of St. Petersburg football, a club statement read. We will always be happy to see him in St. Petersburg! Grazie, Mister!

Spalletti joined Zenit in December 2009 and won two Russian Premier L…

Seattle Sounders have announced the signing of Nigerian defender Onyekachi Apam .

The 27-year-old joins the MLS side on a free transfer having had his contract with Stade Rennais rescinded back in January, but the length of the deal was not disclosed.

Apam will be added to the club s roster once he receives his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

The highly rated centre back has spent his entire career so far in France, having joined Nice back in 2005. He went on to make 105 Ligue 1 appearances for les Aiglons before moving to Stade Rennais in the summer of 2010.

Apam hasn t quite managed to make the grade at Stade de la Route de Lorient, featuring in mere 23 league matches during the three and a half years with les Bretons.

The play…

Chambly will meet Les Herbiers in the last four of the Coupe de France, guaranteeing a third-tier side will contest this season s final.

The Championnat National teams were paired together in Thursday s draw, leaving holders Paris Saint-Germain to play the winner of the outstanding quarter-final clash between Caen and Lyon.

Les Herbiers extended their cup run by beating Ligue 2 Lens on penalties, while Chambly stunned top-flight side Strasbourg thanks to a goal from Lassana Doucoure.

Quevilly were the last team from outside France s top two divisions to reach the final of the competition  they lost to Lyon in 2012.

Unai Emery s PSG still remain on course to secure a domestic treble after easing to a 3-0 win over rivals Marseille, in the process s…