Simone Inzaghi felt Inter's desire to reach the Coppa Italia final four "at all costs" was crucial to their 1-0 quarter-final victory over Atalanta at San Siro.
Matteo Darmian's well-taken winner in the 57th minute saw the holders through to the semi-finals for the fourth successive season.
Having already lifted the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this month by thrashing rivals Milan in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday's victory took Inter one step closer to picking up a second trophy of the season.
The Nerazzurri are the only Italian side left fighting for silverware on all fronts, and Inzaghi lauded his team's aggressive trophy aspirations as key to the win.
"We did well against a valuable team," Inzaghi told reporters at his post-match press conference. "We wanted the semi-final at all costs.
"It was a wonderful evening for everyone. It gives us great pride to be the only team involved in all fronts in Italy."
While Inter remain in the Coppa Italia and Champions League, their Serie A title hopes are looking slim with leaders Napoli holding a 13-point lead at the top and showing no sign of slowing down.
Inzaghi believes his side would be closer to the summit were it not for Napoli's incredible form, winning 17 of their 20 league matches this term, though their sole defeat came against Inter this month.
"We are behind in the league like all the others," Inzaghi added. "We made some mistakes.
"I also see the other leagues. Bayern [Munich], we've seen what a team it is and it has a low points tally. In any other league, with 40 points after 20 games we'd be there to fight for the Scudetto.
"We just have to compliment the progress Napoli has made so far."
Much of the build-up to the Atalanta clash was centred on Milan Skriniar after the defender confirmed on Sunday he would be joining Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.
It remained unclear whether Skriniar would make the move to France in this transfer window, but Inter CEO Beppe Marotta confirmed before the game the Slovakia international would only depart in June when his contract expires.
Despite Skriniar staying with Inter and finishing his suspension for his red card against Empoli, Inzaghi left him out of the squad for the Atalanta game, a decision he explained afterwards.
"I decided to exclude him today to leave him alone," Inzaghi told Mediaset. "But there's no problem with him.
"He's a great professional, he trains with us and I'll choose whether to use him or not each time."
Balogun would be 'great addition' for USMNT, 'but his heart needs to be in it'
Folarin Balogun would be a "great addition" to the United States team, but Arsenal's Matt Turner only wants the striker to make the switch if it "comes from the heart".
Arsenal forward Balogun has excelled on loan with Reims this season, scoring 17 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances – behind only Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe (both 19).
The 21-year-old's excellent form has prompted talk of a tussle for his international allegiance, with the New York-born star eligible to represent England, the United States and Nigeria.
Balogun has been a mainstay in the England Under-21 set-up, but he withdrew from the squad for this month's internationals due to injury.
That development has led to fresh hope Balogun will pledge himself to the USMNT, and Turner confirmed he had spoken to his Gunners team-mate on the matter.
"I spoke to Flo. We obviously had most of our preseason together, and I knew going into it he had some roots in the USA," the goalkeeper said on Wednesday.
"So, he and I developed a relationship pretty quickly. That's pretty much the extent of it. We check in on each other here and there.
"He'd be a great addition to our national team. I think he's done really well, obviously, for his club on loan, and we'll see.
"The decision has to come from the heart, because it's not necessarily an easy task to come and play in these CONCACAF games. It's a tough region at times.
"So, for us, we'd be really grateful to have him, but his heart needs to be in it."
Earlier in the week, Balogun told Sky Sports he was yet to decide on his future but has aspirations of playing at the highest level.
"My international future is not decided yet in terms of who I'll play for," he said. "But of course I want to play international football at the highest level, in the World Cups, and I want to compete at the highest level.
"I want to put myself in positions where I'm performing in front of millions of people."
Reiten gives Chelsea edge over defending champions Lyon
Guro Reiten secured Chelsea the advantage in their quarter-final against defending champions Lyon in the Women's Champions League.
The Norwegian curled home after 28 minutes in France to hand the Blues a 1-0 lead ahead of the reverse fixture in London.
Lyon were guilty of missing a number of opportunities in the first half, although Lauren James could have added a second for Chelsea when she hit the post.
Delphine Cascarino similarly struck the woodwork for Lyon after half-time, with the eight-time champions now needing a turnaround in the second leg if their title defence is to continue.
Retegui earns Batistuta comparison from Italy coach Mancini
Argentina-born Italy striker Mateo Retegui reminds Roberto Mancini of the Albiceleste's Serie A great Gabriel Batistuta.
Retegui has been handed a first Italy call-up for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers, starting at home to England on Thursday.
The Tigre striker, who was born and raised in Argentina, where he has also spent his entire club career, qualifies for the Azzurri through his grandfather.
Strikers travelling between Argentina and Italy is not a new phenomenon, but Retegui is heading for the Italy camp, rather than a Serie A club.
"Coming like this from Argentina to Italy, not in a club team, is not so simple," coach Mancini said on the eve of the England game.
"It takes some time, but the guy is polite and smart. He is a good striker, young, we have great confidence and we have to give him some time."
Retegui has scored 28 goals in 48 Argentine Primera Division games for Tigre.
While Mancini noted comparisons with former Napoli striker German Denis, he preferred to draw parallels with the great Batistuta.
Batistuta joined Fiorentina from Boca Juniors in 1991 and was a great success both with the Viola and with Roma.
"[Retegui] is a classic striker, I see that many compare him to Denis," Mancini said. "I remember when Batistuta arrived in Italy, he reminds me of him.
"Clearly, he is a young guy and needs time and to grow. But I don't think it will take long to settle in."
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