For me, I consider Athletico Madrid a mediocre team due to the way the club's hierarchy runs the affairs of the club, for several years Athletico Madrid can only boast of maybe one or two la liga titles and two champions league runners up and yet the club went ahead to retain Diego Simeone who has only succeeded in making the club a third place figure despite spending huge amount of money in the transfer market over the years, I think its time for a change at club.
You do realize that any club can compete in Laliga but in terms of financial and building of players, nobody comes close to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid is so rich with money that they can buy any player they have interest in and not just that, every player with determination will not think twice before they accept Real Madrid and Barcelona before they are going to choose Atletico Madrid, it will be so difficult to put Atletico before this two teams.
Check the rankings of Atletico Madrid in the last 6 years, there position on the table doesn't pass third place. If they don't win the season. They either take second if one of the team between Real Madrid and Barcelona take first or they remain in the third place for long. How many years did Ronaldo and Messi rule Spain, it was literally about these two teams, I'm not sure if I can boast about any player that finished or has played in Atletico Madrid that has made names like this two teams has made over the years and even now, how many times has Atletico Madrid players made it to top 10 in the Balon D'or, don't blame the team but the system that's has monopolize the league.