Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said Antoine Griezmann still had plenty of room for improvement after the France international's man of the match showing in Tuesday night's straightforward 2-0 La Liga win over Real Sociedad at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Atletico went ahead inside just two minutes when visiting centre-back Mikel Gonzalez headed into his own net to give Atleti their 22nd set-piece goal of the campaign.
The home side were two up with just 10 minutes played when €30 million summer-signing Griezmann smashed in a bouncing ball first time to score against his former team, and then went on to be a constant menace throughout. He was removed late on to warm applause from the appreciative Calderon crowd.
The Colchoneros coach told his post-game news conference that the 24-year-old, who has 19 goals already this season, was doing well but could do still better.
"Griezmann was very good, he scored again, which is what we need from him," Simeone said. "He also works hard doing what the teams needs. Sometimes he was out on the wing, when we need him there, doing his work. He still can improve a lot, as he is still young."
Real Sociedad never really threatened to breach an Atletico defence which has now kept clean sheets in each of its last five outings, something Simeone said was down to the whole team working for each other.
"We are strong defensively for sure, that has been our base through these years," he said. "Being strong at the back speaks well about the whole team, the whole group.
"As the attack begins with the keeper, so the defence begins with the forwards. In these last games we are balancing goals we score with defensive work. Now to see if we can maintain this."
The win strengthened defending champions Atletico's hold on third spot in the table, pushing them four points ahead of Valencia and seven clear of fifth placed Sevilla, albeit with a game more played.
"Third place will be very difficult. Valencia have responsibility to win in Bilbao tomorrow. It is the same for us all -- each game is like a final. The positions will not be decided until the end."
Speaking just before Simeone, La Real boss David Moyes admitted that he was disappointed with the slow start which had put his team in a very difficult position so early in the game.
"I am disappointed with both the goals, they were both mistakes from us," Moyes said. "I don't think it was a free kick for first goal, but we still have to defend it. We did not defend in the opening 10 minutes as well as we should have. That never gave us a chance to really get into the game.
"But after the goals, the team competed as well as Atletico. They are good side, proved it last year being [La Liga] champions, and reaching the Champions League final. This always going to be a very difficult game, and I expect most of you will understand that."
This was a first defeat in seven games for La Real, but Moyes admitted that with eight games to play the last Europa League place was already out of reach.
"I have always felt Europe was too difficult, the distance to travel from the bottom was too far," he said. "But we've been on a very good run, even in our last five games, with three wins and one draw.
"But it is important to pick up as many points now as we can, get as high in the table as we can. That way we can look forward to next season, build for next season. A lot of things we done tonight were very good."