Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and hisInter counterpart Hector Cuper offered an upbeat assessment of their sides chances of reaching the Champions League final, following the 0-0 draw in the first leg of theirÿUEFA Champions league semi-final.

The first ever Milan derby in the competition was an unexpectedly open affair, and Ancelotti believes Milan, by virtue of keeping a clean sheet, have a small advantage.

“The tie is still very evenly balanced but I am pleased with tonight,” Ancelotti said.

“I would say that I see my glass half-full rather than half-empty because we didn’t concede and we played well. It is a small advantage but we know that there is still another game.”

There were chances for both sideswith Seedorf, Gattuso and Shevchenko all going cloise, while Recoba squandered two wonderful opportunities for Inter.

“We played well but didn’t have the luck with the finishing,” said the Milan coach.

“There wasn’t a lot of space but we created chances. On the other hand, we left them some space initially but then tightened up. They defended well, especially in central defence.”

Inter coach Hector Cuper wasÿdelighted with his side’s performance.

“I have to say that I am pleased because we played well, especially in the first half,” he said.

“We didn’t score but we played well and that is also important. Things changed a bit in the second half and Milan played better but in the end I think the result was fair.”

“I saw a well-organised Inter and I think that is a good thing,” he said.

“Both teams wanted to win and to have scored would obviously have been better but we are confident ahead of the second leg.”