Deportivo La Coruna coach Pepe Mel has hailed the fighting spirit of his players after their surprise 2-1 home win over Barcelona on Sunday.
The Galician outfit had not beaten Barca at the Riazor stadium in La Liga since a 2-0 triumph in the 2007-08 campaign.
They faced a Barca side that only days earlier made history with an incredible 6-1 second-leg home triumph over Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League which lifted the into the quarterfinals.
Sunday's results saw Real Madrid, who won 2-1 over Real Betis, leapfrog Barca back into first place in La Liga.
"We are very happy and we have to enjoy this win," Mel told Onda Cero radio. "I have to congratulate my players, they did a great job."
Mel has yet to lose since taking the helm of Depor on Feb. 28 following the sacking of Gaizka Garitano, with the side taking two wins in four games to climb to 15th place.
"For the first time since I arrived, I was able to have three days to prepare for a game," the former Real Betis and West Brom coach said. "When you have time to work, it's great.
"We had practised two different tactics depending on whether Barca would play with a back three or back four and my players executed our play to perfection.
"I loved the way my team reacted after Barca scored. Had that happened a few months ago, Depor would have lost that game. Now we believe we are capable of anything."
Depor, who were thumped 8-0 by Barca last season at the Riazor, scored both of their goals from set plays. Joselu, on loan from Premier League side Stoke, struck home from two yards to put Depor ahead after Barcelona's defence failed to clear a corner.
Luis Suarez pulled Barca level after the restart but Alex Bergantinos headed home the winner from a corner 17 minutes from the end.
It was not the first time in recent weeks that Depor have made the most of set-play situations.
"Since I arrived, I have worked on our strategy play," Mel said. "We already took advantage of that against Atletico, we won at [Sporting] Gijon because of it [a Pedro Mosquera header following a cross from a corner] and again we have won like that."
Mel has taken over a club that had failed to win in 2017 and had dropped to 17th in the standings after four straight defeats.
"Since I have come here, I try to talk about the positives," Mel said. "We try to solve the negatives but not to dwell on them too much. This team had been stuck on a pessimistic loop that didn't allow it to perform.
"That we are eight points clear of the drop zone is something that appeared unthinkable several weeks ago."
Depor could not have asked for a better result ahead of Sunday's Galician derby against Celta Vigo, which they will host.
"Now we need to focus now on what is the most important game for our fans, the encounter against Celta," Mel said.
"We cannot make a mistake and be overconfident and I have to make sure that doesn't happen. It's great that our fans have recovered their smiles. The team had been depressed.
"But in the last two weeks between all of us, the fans, the team, the coaching staff, we have all worked together to come out from that situation.
"The fans have regained the enthusiasm."