After Real Madrid's 2-0 win over San Lorenzo in the Club World Cup final on Saturday, Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team were the best in the world, and then challenged them to repeat 2014's achievements in the twelve months to come.
Sergio Ramos headed the game's opening goal from Toni Kroos' corner just past the half-hour mark, with Gareth Bale ending the game as a contest by scoring early in the second period.
Blancos captain Iker Casillas then lifted the trophy to cap a 2014 in which Madrid have claimed four trophies for the first calendar year in their history -- the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Supercup and now Club World Cup.
Along the way Cristiano Ronaldo and company have won 51 of the 63 games played, scoring 178 goals and conceding just 41.
Speaking to reporters at Le Grand Stade de Marrakech after the game, the Italian coach said he was delighted at the achievement, while reminding everyone there were more trophies to be won in the coming months.
"This is incredible, unforgettable," Ancelotti said. "We are very happy to end the year with this trophy, but we need to keep going as the season does not end here. We want 2015 to be like 2014.
"It is a very good moment. I am very happy to arrive at this club and to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup in my first year in Madrid. There are fantastic players at this club. This trophy was deserved. We can say that Madrid is the best team in the world at this moment."
The victory also saw Ancelotti equal ex-Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola as the coach who has won most international club trophies in history with eight. He was characteristically modest when asked about his own personal role in his current club's successes.
"It is a fantastic experience to be at Madrid, because we really have a family," the former Milan, Juventus, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach said. "We all work together and we always talk with the players. It is a united family, with a very clear objective. To do the most possible to win."
Ancelotti said March's Copa del Rey final win over Barcelona, when Ronaldo was injured and Bale scored a superb solo winning goal late on, had been key to pushing Madrid towards their following successes.
"I have to think that the key was the first final in the Copa del Rey," he said. "To win that cup in that moment gave us a lot of confidence. That final in Valencia was decisive. Afterwards the team improved in every game."
Ramos, who admitted afterwards he had played the game despite having a torn muscle in his thigh, afterwards picked up the golden ball trophy for player of the tournament. His boss recalled the defender's goalscoring role in Madrid's biggest games this year, while saying it was still all about the team.
"[Ramos] scored in the semi-final and the final," Ancelotti said. "He also scored in the Champions League, in the final and the semis. But I prefer to talk about all the players, because this is a team."
The night was more frustrating for Ronaldo, who did not score in either of his games in Morocco, and did not look too happy on receiving the silver ball prize for the tournament's second-best player.
"I must stress that [Ronaldo] helps the team a lot, always," Ancelotti said. "He is a team player too. What more can you say? He is the best player in our squad."
Ancelotti said that everyone involved with Madrid's should enjoy their success, before starting to focus on winning more in 2015.
"If we can repeat this year I would be happy," he said. "We have finished this year well and that should give us confidence for next year. That is our objective. We must enjoy everything now -- the team, the fans, the atmosphere, the people."