On the day when Ancelotti was unveiled in London as the new manager of Chelsea, the man who stepped into his shoes at the San Siro admitted to mixed feelings on his first day back in the office.

"My first thought goes to Ancelotti because in these years, I have been close to him and he also pushed me in my decision to replace him," Leonardo said.

"This morning when I arrived to Milanello and I parked the car in what was Carlo's slot, I felt a particularly strong emotion.

"The energy I feel today is closely linked to him."

Leonardo, a former Brazil international and a long-time player at Milan, has been charged with enormous responsibility as the new coach.

Unlike his predecessor and good friend, Leonardo does not have the great Kaka in midfield following the player's 67million euro move to Real Madrid.

A quality that endeared Ancelotti to the Milan fans, however, was his optimism and that certainly appears to have rubbed off on his successor.

Milan have yet to make any moves in the transfer market, and vice-president Adriano Galliani, the club administrator, believes it will be several weeks before they buy any players because prices have become inflated following the sale of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid.

"I believe a lot in this team and even without Kaka, this team has a lot of talent," Leonardo said.

"It's my first experience as coach, but I know well the atmosphere in the camp and the important thing is that there is synergy between the players and the club."

There is very real pressure for all associated with Milan, though. The team has not won the scudetto since the 2003-04 campaign and last year they even missed out on the Champions League.

Milan finished third behind Italian champions Inter Milan and Juventus last season and will return to play in Europe's elite club competition this year.

"I am confident that this group can give great satisfaction," Leonardo said.

"If this team is able to show on the pitch all its potential we will be truly competitive."