Daniel Farke said he never doubted his Leeds United team would come through a perfectly imperfect afternoon which saw them reach the club's first FA Cup final in 39 years the hard way.
The Hammers had two goals correctly chalked off for offside in extra-time and hit the woodwork three times in a game which went way beyond 120 minutes but Leeds came out on top 4-2 in the shoot-out, despite Joel Piroe missing the first kick.
It was, argued Farke, how Leeds should be and set up a Wembley semi-final against Chelsea, who they have beaten and drawn with in this season's Premier League.
"It was a bit of a crazy game and it has cost lots of energy but in the FA Cup quarter-final, both teams are able to fight for another piece of history for the club," said Farke, "A game like this should be a bit like this, with ups and downs and setbacks.
"We could have made our life a bit easier after an excellent start to the game. I think we deserved to be in the lead (through Ao Tanaka), and deserved to score the second goal (a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty). But West Ham were also giving everything and trying everything to come back into the game.
"We could have been a bit more composed in possession to kill the game, we allowed them too many crosses over their left side and could have defended a bit better.
"I'm just proud of my boys – how we dealt also with so many setbacks, not just the two late goals, and the momentum was then more or less with West Ham, the stadium a bit on their side, decisions again, injury setbacks, and then to have this mentality in the end of the game.
HERO: Lucas Perri saves Jarrod Bowen's penalty in the FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham United (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)placeholder image
HERO: Lucas Perri saves Jarrod Bowen's penalty in the FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham United (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
"Even the penalty shoot-out, we missed the first one but we stuck together and wanted to win this game and were able to reward our fantastic fanbase with the first semi-final in so many decades."
Lucas Perri epitomised Leeds with some ropey moments either side of important saves both during the game and twice in the penalty shoot-out.
"Today is a bit like a sign of how we are but also how we should be because we are perhaps not perfect because we are just a promoted side we also sometimes make mistakes,” said Farke.
"Lucas had a few situations during the game where he could have done better but he kept going and showed the mentality to deal with it.
"In the end be there with decisive saves and to be in the spotlight, to get all the plaudits, is more or less a perfect example of how we should be. We are not perfect but if we keep going, keep fighting, invest a lot.
"We are mentally strong and in the end we can celebrate."
Stoppage-time goals from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi seemed to have taken all momentum from Leeds, but Farke insisted he always thought his players would come through.
"As a manager you are always concerned, even if you are 2-0 up and you are dominating the game because you know in football within a split second the whole world can change," he said.
"West Ham has a quality with (Adama) Traore, he is an unbelievable one-against-one player to bring a cross into the box and they also have players who can score a goal.
"You are always switched on and focused but I never doubt my players. I always believe in my players and believe that whatever happens on the pitch and how big the setbacks are, the sucker punches are, we can always find a way to celebrate in the end."
Leeds lost Anton Stach to a tackle Max Kilman was fortunate not to be booked for, let alone concede a penalty from. Kilman later did concede the penalty Calvert-Lewin converted.
Noah Okafor and Joe Rodon also went off injured, setbacks for Leeds' relegation battle they will hope are offset by the mental effects of the result on both teams.
"I think Noah Okafor seems to be all right," said Farke. "I think it was just cramps, a bit understandable after being out for a while with injury.
"Joe Rodon rolled his ankle so I hope it's not too bad, but we have to assess him.
"Thank God there is a bit of time until we have to play the next game (at Manchester United on April 13).
"Anton probably should have been rewarded with a penalty as well. He was hit against his ankle, he rolled it and probably a ligament injury. We have to assess how bad it is.
"I hope it's not too bad because with him, he was running the whole game in the beginning and was so crucial for us and it was a major setback to lose him during this first half."
As to how victory could help his side, who are four points above West Ham in the Premier League with seven games to play, the last of them at the London Stadium, Farke pointed to "The soft skills – confidence and belief and also to know how it feels to deal with pressure, how it feels like to play in a pressure situation.
"This experience is always priceless and for that it's definitely good and if the outcome is good then it always helps but sadly it's never a guarantee that we can also celebrate in the league in the end but it will definitely be helpful."
The two semi-finals will be played on the final weekend of April, with Manchester City facing Chamoionship Southampton in the other tie.