Mel later said: "At the end of the match we formed a huddle and I told them that this is the path to the nine finals that we have left, but not because of the classification, which I think is going to be inconsequential, but because of the pride of the people, the footballers and the club.
"Starting winning with me in this new stage is very important for me, but seeing the satisfaction on the faces of the footballers in the locker room and seeing how they have fought... The first halg I think they had fun and in the second they have suffered a lot. We were facing a great team and we knew that we were going to have to suffer. In the moments when Las Palmas was more protagonist we have known how to suffer and we have kept a clean sheet which is also important."
The win also marked a return to former club Las Palmas for Mel and he added: "The affection of the people has been exciting, you can't pay for that with anything. It's good how they receive you, but the most important thing is how they say goodbye to you and I think that people have good memories of me here
"I love this land, I love the Canarians, it is an exceptional town and they have treated me very well for four years. I only wish them good things."