Gabi takes dig at former teammates

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has said that the capital outfit needed players 'committed to the club' to be able to challenge for silverware once more next season.

Atletico won La Liga and reached the final of the Champions League last season, but have since lost three key performers – Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois – all to Chelsea.

Gabi, however, has insisted that Atletico are a bigger club than the English side.

"It's true that a lot of player have left but it's important that the ones who wanted to stay have stayed," AS reports the midfielder as saying.

"The club has made an effort for those players to stay and the ones who have left have gone with the thanks of the club. Last year was magical for everyone but we need people committed to the club and that's what matters.

"There's no disappointment. There are only three teams better than Atletico: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. You can improve economically, which is acceptable, but not athletically."

Atletico also reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey last season.