AC MILAN general manager Adriano Galliani revealed several players were reduced to tears when they heard coach Carlo Ancelotti was leaving for Chelsea.

Ancelotti ended his eight-year reign at the San Siro and has been officially confirmed as Guus Hiddink's successor today.

The Italian broke the news to his team following the 2-0 win at Fiorentina which secured automatic qualification for next seasons Champions League.

Emotions were already running high in Milan with veteran defender Paolo Maldini playing his final game for the club yesterday, and Galliani admitted Ancelottis exit had been hard to take.

He said "My relationship with him has been more as a friend than as a manager and to see him on the Chelsea website holding a Chelsea shirt has left its mark on me."