AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed his side's destruction of Manchester United's hopes of an all-English Champions League final.

The Rossoneri's 3-0 second-leg victory in their semi-final at the San Siro set up a rematch with Liverpool, their conquerors in the 2005 decider.

United came to Milan with a 3-2 lead from the first leg but were quickly put on the back foot by Milan, who scored goals through Kaka and Clarence Seedorf.

An out-of-sorts United were unable to turn things around and Alberto Gilardino killed the tie in the second half as Milan ran out 5-3 aggregate winners.

Ancelotti, who described the first-half display as "perfect", said: "We knew we could play a good game and that's what we did tonight.

"The first half was intense and our performance allowed us to go on and win a very very delicate game."

Milan, whose tally of six European Cup wins is bettered only by Real Madrid with nine, once again proved their credentials in the continent's top competition.

It is the third time they have reached the final in five years.

Milan won an all-Italian final with Juventus in Manchester in 2003 and then lost in an epic with Liverpool in Istanbul two years later.

"We have reached the final three times in five editions," said Ancelotti.

"It shows you have to be convinced of your own abilities to do well and to find the right balance and the necessary calmness and focus you need to go on and win."

Ancelotti insisted he had no fears of a rematch with Liverpool, who came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 last time they met.

"We are very happy to be playing in the final and equally happy to face Liverpool," said Ancelotti.

"What happened two years ago has no weight on the upcoming final. We want to win it."

Ancelotti was delighted at the quality of football produced by the Italian side in the first half.

"The first half was perfect in every department," said the man who was a key player in the great Milan side of the late 1980s, when his unselfish work in midfield gave creative licence to the likes of Ruud Gullit.

And he singled out Italian World Cup-winning striker Gilardino for praise.

"Gilardino was good," said Ancelotti of the striker whose performances in Europe have attracted some criticism this season. "He played well and showed his quality."