Inter wingback Denzel Dumfries feels that successfully reaching the semifinals of the Champions League is about as good of a birthday present as he could ask for.

Speaking to InterTV after the Nerazzurri’s 3-3 draw against Benfica in the competition, via FCInterNews, the Dutchman expressed his happiness at the result, and also his pride in his teammates.

Dumfries turned 27 on Tuesday, but the former PSV man won’t exactly have had much time to celebrate as normal.

The Nerazzurri’s preparations for a do-or-die Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Benfica were well underway, and the Dutchman will have had to hold off on really celebrating until that match had been completed.

Dumfries and his teammates went out and got the job done, securing a 3-3 draw which, despite its wild scoreline, was exactly enough to get them over the line and into the semifinals of Europe’s top club competition.

Now, the 27-year-old can really celebrate, both his own personal milestone and the achievement of a massive goal by he and his teammates.

The Nerazzurri will face city rivals AC Milan in a two-legged semifinal tie next month, and from there they can dream of an appearance in the biggest match in European club competition, maybe even more, and this could hardly be a more fitting birthday present.

“Reaching the next round is the best birthday present for me,” Dumfries said after the match, “our goal was to get through and I’m extremely happy.”

Of coming up against Benfica, a team who have been in blistering form under his former PSV coach Roger Schmidt, Dumfries said that “They’re a great team, I know their coach well and I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

“I’m very proud of my teammates,” he added.

“We have to keep going like this, including in the league.”

And of playing in front of the fans at the San Siro, Dumfries said that “The atmosphere was incredible.”

“Now I’m exhausted, but proud, we have to end this season on a high note.”