Internazionale coach Roberto Mancini believes his side will have to continue their recent improvement if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Impressive performances over the last few weeks saw the Nerazzurri move up to sixth in the table.
And it was more of the same on Monday night as they battled past a determined Cagliari side by 2-1 at the Stadio Sant'Elia.
"We should have put the game to bed, I agree, but Cagliari are strong," Mancini told reporters after the game.
"They put us under all sorts of trouble but I can understand the pressure at such a tough away venue.
"Of course the third consecutive win means nothing, it's not that we get a free ticket for next season's Champions League.
"We're winning, we want to continue like this. The third win in a row was important, especially after playing in Scotland away from home [against Celtic in the Europa League]."
Asked to comment the performance of Nemanja Vidic, Mateo Kovacic and Mauro Icardi, the Italian added: "Players who don't play are always those people talk about.
"Nemanja [Vidic] and Mateo [Kovacic] did well [against Cagliari], like all other players.
"As for Icardi, he scored a brilliant goal and was involved in many of our moves. He can still improve and he will be a more complete striker after doing so."
