text: Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes English football needs to ‘wake up’ after this season’s poor showing in Europe. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City were eliminated at the Champions League last 16 stage, and Everton were dumped out of the Europa League in the same round. Simeone, who takes Atletico to rivals Real Madrid for a Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday night, thinks this season’s failure should spark a response from the Premier League’s top clubs. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has admitted his surprise at the plight of English clubs in Europe . Chelsea's players look dejected during their costly draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain last month . Barcelona's Luis Suarez beats Joe Hart during his side's 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad . Arsenal's Mesut Ozil sits on the turf after his side's last 16 Champions League exit at the hands of Monaco . Click here to read Simeone's column in full . Writing in his exclusive column for Goal.com, he said: ‘I’m surprised there are no English clubs left in the Champions League. ‘English football has enormous potential with its footballers and financial clout. The fact that there is no English team left in the last eight of the Champions League or in the Europa League is a wake-up call for the Premier League to look at why it is that, despite their great economic power and with all the many great footballers playing in England, Chelsea are so far ahead of everyone else and why they have no teams left in Europe.’ Simeone believes that Spain is still home to the two best teams in Europe - Wednesday night’s opponents Real Madrid, who have home advantage after a 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon last week, and Barcelona. ‘For us at Atletico, we are competing against two teams with the obligation of winning the Champions League,’ he said. ‘At the very least, Madrid and Barcelona are among the last eight in Europe every season and usually the last four, so for Atletico to win La Liga last season was a tremendous achievement.’ Diego Godin (left) and Raul Garcia (centre) smile as Fernando Torres makes a point during training on Tuesday . Atletico Madrid defender Guilherme Siqueira (left) heads the ball as Antoine Griezmann watches on . Atletico forward Mario Mandzukic appeared in cheerful mood during training in Majadahonda on Tuesday . Atletico's Turkey international Arda Turan keeps his eye on the ball ahead of the quarter-final clash . Beating Barca to the title last season was harder than winning the Champions League, according to Simeone . Simeone believes his side will face one of Europe's top two teams when they take on Real Madrid . Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, resisted the opportunity to get his excuses in early ahead of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite facing Atletico without four members of his first team, he said: ‘I have the best squad in the world and it is more important to me who is playing than who is not’. Gareth Bale is Real’s biggest absentee. He was vital for them in last season’s run-in, scoring in their quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund and in the final against Atletico Madrid. Sportsmail understands he remains committed to staying at the club beyond this summer, despite interest from Manchester United, and he was desperate to play on Wednesday night. Instead he is in a race to be fit for the semi-finals at the start of next month, should Real qualify. Carlo Ancelotti watches his players during the training session ahead of the crucial Champions League tie . Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lucas Silva (right) are put through their paces in training ahead of their next game . Daniel Carvajal, Marcelo Vieira and Sami Khedira (left to right) train ahead of the game with Atletico Madrid . Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid drew 0-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final . Gareth Bale will miss Wednesday's second leg after picking up an injury against Malaga on Saturday . Bale misses the second leg because of a strain to his left calf, while Karim Benzema and Luka Modric have knee injuries. The latter has been ruled out for up to six weeks after sustaining ligament damage in Saturday’s win against Malaga. Left back Marcelo, meanwhile, is suspended as Ancelotti aims to end a seven-game winless streak against Simeone. He is expected to play Pepe in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Isco, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in attack with James Rodriguez and Javier Hernandez or Jese. If Hernandez gets the nod, it will be his first big-game start since joining from Manchester United on loan in September. Should Javier Hernandez play, it will be the Mexican's first big-game start since joining Real Madrid .
target: There are no English clubs left in the Champions League or Europa League .
  Diego Simeone admits he is surprised at the plight of Premier League sides .
  He believes Barcelona and Real Madrid are the top two clubs in Europe .
  Atletico Madrid face Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final .