Ancelotti gets off to winning start with Milan

Carlo Ancelotti made a winning start as AC Milan coach but just 5,569 fans turned out at the San Siro to see his new side beat Perugia 3-0 in an Italian Cup second-round first-leg tie on Tuesday.

Ancelotti, who won two European Cups as a player with Milan in the late 1980s and early 90s, took over from Turk Fatih Terim as Milan coach last week.

Two headed goals from Filippo Inzaghi, who played under Ancelotti last season at Juventus, ensured a positive debut for the new coach in a low-key game.

There was a muted atmosphere with such a small crowd in the 83,000-capacity stadium and little excitement in the first half, save largely harmless shots from Milan's Christian Brocchi and Marco Simone and a good effort from Perugia striker Emanuele Berretoni which was well saved by Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

But then Inzaghi, who was left on the bench by Ancelotti during Juve's championship run-in last season, broke the deadlock with an angled header from a Rui Costa free-kick five minutes after the break.

Milan's second goal, 13 minutes later, was a carbon copy, with Inzaghi meeting Rui Costa's cross with another fine near-post header.

Eight minutes from the end Milan added to their lead when Perugia defender Sean Sogliano slid a Thomas Helveg cross into his own net.

Ancelotti said he was pleased with the performance, particularly the way his side had adjusted to his preferred tactical formation of 4-3-1-2.

"It went well enough, we were well-organised and there was order in our play," the Milan coach told reporters after the game.

Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa has struggled with his form this season and Ancelotti was delighted to see the former Fiorentina man have a key influence on the match.

"Rui Costa and Inzaghi did well for those two situations and I was pleased to see Rui Costa in the game a lot and helping out in deeper positions as well. A Rui Costa like that will be a big boost for Milan," said Ancelotti.

"It is all very nice at the moment -- it has been a good week in training, it was a good match but I know it won't always be like this."

Ancelotti said he believed his arrival at the club had made a positive impact on the team.

"The players felt the change and they reacted well and showed a great desire to do well," he said.

Ancelotti's first league game in charge is at home to Piacenza on Sunday.