Diego Martinez applauds Las Palmas' team spirit after stunning victory against Barcelona

Las Palmas manager Diego Martinez, aged 43, expressed his satisfaction with the collective effort demonstrated by his team in achieving a surprising 2-1 victory against LaLiga leaders Barcelona on Saturday.

Martinez assumed his role last month when Las Palmas was positioned at the bottom of the league table, having not secured a win in their first nine matches. Since his arrival, the team has triumphed in four out of six league encounters, including a significant win against Girona, which has propelled them to 14th place in the standings.

"We are making gradual progress. We faced a challenging match against Mallorca, and coming here, we understood that any error could be costly," Martinez remarked. "When we maintain our unity, we perform significantly better."

Las Palmas had previously suffered a 3-2 defeat to a 10-man Mallorca last weekend, conceding a goal in injury time, and also faced a loss against Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

"The players give their all. Today, we were fortunate to earn points, although that has not always been the case. However, the team is progressively aligning with our vision," Martinez noted.

"Ultimately, it all hinges on the players. The initial step towards achieving results here is fostering belief, which is of utmost importance."

Las Palmas will continue their LaLiga journey next Saturday, facing off against the bottom-placed Real Valladolid.

SportsLigue