Jose Mourinho “celebrated like I never have before” after beating Chelsea. “The team that deserved it reached the quarter-finals.”
Samuel Eto'o grabbed a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, giving Inter the 3-1 win on aggregate.
“It is a great moment for the team, for Inter and for all the players who year after year struggled to get past this barrier of the final 16,” the Special One told Sky Italia.
“It's a qualification earned without luck or defensive football, nor because our opponents played badly. It was because as individuals and as a team we had the perfect game and everyone did their job brilliantly.
“It is the game that takes Inter to the quarters, where they hadn't been for four years. We beat Chelsea twice, who are a great side, and there can be no doubt. The side that deserved it got to the quarters.”
Inter have qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2005/2006. In the last three seasons, the Italians were knocked out in the last 16.
It also represented their first ever away victory in the Champions League knockout phase at the 11th attempt.
“I know Chelsea, worked to analyse the games, I know this stadium, the atmosphere and the fans. I knew it was impossible to draw 0-0 by playing defensively,” he said of his audacious 4-2-1-3 system.
“Chelsea are a very predictable side, they always play exactly the same way, but it's tough to take them on because they are predictably suited to their players.
“Ivanovic and Zhirkov attack, so we'd be forced to defend. If they are under pressure, they have to think twice before pushing forward. In fact they were not as effective as usual and we played the kind of game we wanted.”
Mourinho tried to keep his celebration to a minimum during the match, but confessed to a change of approach behind closed doors.
“I celebrated like never before and in the locker room enjoyed it so much. It was a fantastic victory for Inter, my team is Inter, the Inter fans are my fans, they are my players. I celebrated a great deal for a wonderful victory.
“I celebrated on the touchline and I think this victory is the confirmation Stamford Bridge is my home. I always win here, no matter what team I'm leading!”
It adds a new chapter to the feud with Carlo Ancelotti, although Mourinho insisted it was all media hype.
“There are no problems with Carlo. If we exchanged a few words every now and then, that had no effect on the respect we have for each other.
“In England, as is tradition, I brought him a bottle of wine from my country and he gave me a bottle of Italian wine. He invited me to his office for a drink afterward, we'll see if we can do it with all we have to do.
“I would hate to be the only manager to win the Premier League with Chelsea, I have many friends here and hope Ancelotti can take the trophy.”