Emilio Butragueno 'proud' of Real Madrid

Sixteen-year-old Norwegian midfielder Martin Oedegaard (L) poses with Real Madrid Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno during his official presentation on January 22, 2015
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Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno pays tribute to his team, who fell just short of Barcelona in the race for the La Liga title.

Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno has said that his team can be proud of their attempts to wrest the La Liga title from Barcelona this season.

The Madrid giants ended the campaign with 12 straight league victories, but ultimately fell one point short of Barcelona, who won Spain's top flight for a 24th time.

Butragueno was pleased that his team stuck to their word of challenging "until the last minute" after ending their domestic season with a 2-0 victory at Deportivo La Coruna.

"We said we were going to fight until the last minute. We've done well this season, we won the last 12 games and that says a lot about us. Thank you to the players and the fans, now we have the Champions League Final, we have to prepare very well. We have a tough opponent but it is the hope of everyone," AS quotes the 52-year-old as saying.

"From now we have to think of the final. It's the most prestigious competition and it makes Madrid the world's most prestigious club. The role of the fans is very important, the players arrive very well but Atletico Madrid require the maximum."

Real Madrid will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on May 28 in Milan.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League Group A football match Real Madrid CF vs Malmo FF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 8, 201
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CBarcelona382945112298391
2Real Madrid382864110347690
3Atletico MadridAtletico38284663184588
4Villarreal381810104435964
5Athletic Bilbao381881258451362
6Celta Vigo38179125159-860
7Sevilla381410145150152
8Malaga381212143835348
9Real Sociedad38139164548-348
10Real Betis381112153452-1845
11Las PalmasLas Palmas38128184553-844
12Valencia381111164648-244
13Espanyol38127194074-3443
14EibarEibar381110174961-1243
15Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo38818124561-1642
16Granada38109194669-2339
17Sporting GijonSporting Gijon38109194062-2239
RRayo Vallecano38911185273-2138
RGetafe3899203767-3036
RLevante3888223770-3332