New Villarreal coach José Mourinho has secured victory in his first match as manager after defeating Real Sociedad at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Sunday.
Mourinho's side have won their last four matches and now sit in second place in the Spanish top flight, just two points behind leaders Real Madrid. They will face Eibar in the next round of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Mourinho is known for his tactical acumen and his ability to adapt to different playing styles, but he had never led a team before. However, he was confident that his players were ready to take on the challenge.
"I'm really happy with how we played against Real Sociedad," said Mourinho. "We played well together and it's good to be able to get results like this."
The win was not easy, as Sociedad started brightly and even took the lead early in the game. But Mourinho's side fought back and eventually equalised through a header from Pedro Gomes.
"It's always difficult when you're starting a new season and things don't go your way," said Mourinho. "But I know our squad is capable of doing something special and we showed today."
Despite the result, Mourinho was pleased with the way his team responded. "It's great to come out with three points and I think we did a good job," he said. "I hope we can build on these results and continue to play well."
In addition to winning the game, the win also boosted the morale of the fans who had been waiting for the moment since the beginning of the campaign. Many fans had expressed their disappointment with the previous season's poor form and were eager to see a change in the team's fortunes.
"We all want to improve and we're working hard every day to do so," said one fan. "We've got some goals to work towards and we'll keep pushing forward."
Overall, the victory was a positive sign for the Villarreal side, who remain firmly in contention for promotion to the Premier League. The team will now head into the next round of the Champions League and look to continue building on their recent success.