India, April 17 -- Inter Milan desperately defending against Bayern Munich late in the game was not what Simone Inzaghi wanted as was evident from the head coach wheeling arms, clapping and exhorting his team to show more energy. But it, and the 4-3 quarter-final win on aggregate after the 2-2 draw in Milan, felt very Italian. It also brought back memories of what Inzaghi had said after the 1-0 win against Arsenal earlier in the Champions League. "The result is all that matters." That felt very Italian as well.

It is important to circle back to that match in November to understand why Inter are among Europe's elite quartet and, along with Paris St-Germain and Barcelona, eyeing a treble. It will be their first since Jose Mourinho's side a...