Monday, 22nd December, 2014



Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was all praise for his team’s fighting spirit and singled out hat-trick hero Antionne Griezmann for special praise after their 4-1 win against La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao in the match last night.

Athletic Bilbao were leading by a solitary goal via a Mikel Rico strike at the end of the first half, but they couldn’t resist Atletico Madrid’s firepower that followed just as the second half began with a Griezmann strike.




The Argentine singled out the Frenchman for special praise after his hat-trick and a Raul Garcia penalty sealed the three points for the defending champions.

 


Talking about the difficulty Griezmann faced in the first half at San Mames, Simeone said at the post match press conference: “In the first half he couldn’t find the way to get into the game and be able to break in terms of his speed”.

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But he was all praise for the winger’s performance in the second half, adding: “He made a terrific second half. The player we needed, the one we went looking for. We trust his characteristics very much and we need him.”

The winger Simeone purchased from Real Sociedad at the start of the current season had scored three goals in the league prior to the match, but doubled that tally with his match-winning performance.

The three points brought Atletico Madrid to within four points of table toppers Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Griezmann will look to continue his form once the season resumes after the winter break.

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