AC Milan's first loss since mid-September could be a good thing according to coach Carlo Ancellotti. The 3-1 away loss to Palermo, on the back of last week's controversial 2-2 draw at Torino, has seen the rossoneri drop six points adrift of league leaders Inter Milan.

Ancelotti, speaking after last night's Palermo loss, was philosophical about the result.

"The whole team didn't mark tightly all over the field and that gave Palermo even more opportunity to pass the ball around.

"It is a heavy defeat, as it comes at an important time of the campaign, but this team has put together a good number of results.

"I won't say this defeat is necessarily healthy, but we had lost a little intensity and so this can give us the kick we need to resume with renewed passion.

"We were unable to emerge from Palermo's aggressive pressing because we were too slow and timid in our build-up."