Match-winner Karim Benzema struggled to hide his delight after Real Madrid qualified for the knockout-phase of the Champions League as group winners on Wednesday night.
A first-half double from Benzema was the difference as Zinedine Zidane's side produced their best performance of a stop-start campaign and strolled to a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Madrid's future in Europe's premier club competition was on the line going into the game but the 13-time champions showed their class and experience, easily beating the Germans thanks to two headers from the 32-year-old stalwart.
'This was a great game for us and the way we want to go,' said Benzema.
'We always try to play like this, we prepare well for every game but sometimes we lack a bit of luck when it comes to scoring. We put in an excellent performance today that will give us a lot of confidence.
'We all come out stronger from this match, Zidane and the players. This is how we need to play, if we could play like this every game we'd be unstoppable.
Zidane's side had begun the evening third in Group B but finished top to ensure they will be seeded in next Monday's draw for the last-16.
The French coach praised his side's capacity to perform when backed into a corner, also emphasising the importance of winning the group and avoiding the best sides left in the competition in the next round.
'We played a spectacular game from the first minute to the last,' Zidane told reporters.
'We interpreted the game very well, I think it was the most complete performance of the season.'
'We don't just play well under pressure, we have played well in other games too but it's true that this team has this ability to come into their own when the going gets tough.
'I've been a player and it's impossible to play like this all the time. We try to but sometimes it doesn't come off. I'm very happy for the players, because they are the most important members of this squad.'