Diego Simeone singled out Antoine Griezmann for praise following the winger's hat-trick in Atletico Madrid's 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The summer arrival from Real Sociedad enjoyed a coming of age against his former arch-rivals with a second-half treble at San Mames, and the Coach felt the Frenchman's work in training was beginning to pay dividends.
"It was a volatile game. Athletic were good in the first half, and we were strong and intense in the second," he said to reporters after the match.
"I hoped we'd get into the dressing room at half-time without going a second goal down. Coming to Bilbao is wonderful. Their fans always cheer the team on.
"I didn't have an opinion about the referee's performance [against Villarreal], and I don't again.
"[Antoine] Griezmann was the player this team needed. He was different, and his work in training has been noticed.
"We struggled to adapt to the losses of [Mario] Mandzukic and Koke in the first half, but in the second we calmed down and saw out an immense 2014.
"We ended a year in which we recorded some extraordinary numbers, but we can improve even further next year."
