Atlético de Madrid captain, Gabi hopes that his team continues to be talked about next season as a "solid side capable of challenging for trophies."

He thinks that next season is going to be "very exciting". "The team has achieved stability and consistency and will continue to challenge the big teams," he said in an interview published on the Atlético website.

He defined last year as a "10 out of 10 for everyone". "The team did a great job, reaching its goal of being amongst the big clubs, in the Champions League, even before winning an important trophy for the club against our arch-rival Real Madrid, in its own back yard, having not beaten them for so long… The Cup was the icing on an amazing year."

The key, he explained was a "united dressing room, much more than the presence of great players" inside the Atlético squad. "All the lads gave 100%, whether they played a lot or a little, they always did their best, which is the most important thing in a team. That unity makes the squad stronger," he added.

"Simeone is also part of that unity. He came in and hit the ground running with his own ideas. People understood what he wanted from them, believed in him and what he wanted. Everyone is happy in training, knows exactly what is expected of them and we're all on the same page," he said.