Atletico: No one can compete with Barcelona, Madrid

MADRID (AP) - Atletico Madrid coach Abel Resino said no team can challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain this season and few will be able to in Europe.

"You have to try and compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona at least," Resino said Saturday as Atletico wrapped up its first week of preseason training. "But it's clear now they're two teams above (Spanish sides) and most European clubs. Clubs like (AC) Milan, Manchester United or Inter haven't made half the signings that Madrid has."

Madrid has spent €214 million ($300 million) on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema. Barcelona is on the verge of signing Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as it prepares to defend its Spanish, Champions League and Copa del Rey titles.

Resino wants his players to stay focused on a third straight top-four finish to clinch a Champions League place.

"We need to stay focused on continuing on the way we finished last season," said Resino, who led Atletico to six straight wins to close out the campaign. "We have to achieve what we showed in that phase, when we were ambitious and consistent. We have to keep on that way."

Atletico hasn't made many offseason signings, only buying Spain defender Juanito Gutierrez from Real Betis.

But midfielders Jose Antonio Reyes, Cleber Santana and Jose Manuel Jurado are returning from loan spells, which gives Resino - in his first full season since replacing Javier Aguirre in February - some extra options.

"The situation that football is living is obvious and just about no club is making any signings because of the current crisis," Resino said. "If we can improve the squad, we'll do it and the club will make an effort. If not, we're going to fight with the team we have, which I'm happy with."

Resino is hopeful Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero will remain at the club despite reports linking the two international strikers to top European clubs.

"The players that have been talked about all summer, as in the case of Forlan and (Aguero), are working fantastically well," Resino said. "We think they're going to continue, but we can't control whatever happens."

Resino has already made one major change by making defender Antonio Lopez captain after Maxi Rodriguez preferred not to continue in the role this season.

The club also said that defender Mariano Pernia would undergo surgery on his broken collar bone on Tuesday. Pernia received multiple injuries in a road accident in Argentina earlier this month.