Soccer-Ancelotti sweats as Milan complete catharsis

YOKOHAMA, Japan Dec 17 (Reuters) - AC Milan's successful quest to win the Club World Cup completed a remarkable catharsis for the Rossoneri after a rollercoaster 18 months.

Their 4-2 thrashing of Boca Juniors in Sunday's final in Yokohama snapped Europe's jinx in the new-look competition as Ballon d'Or winner Kaka ran riot.

However, the comprehensive manner of Milan's win may not be enough to save coach Carlo Ancelotti's job, with Jose Mourinho being linked with the post.

Ancelotti has dealt with questions about Mourinho and his side's poor form in Italy's Serie A with impressive dignity since arriving in Japan.

But he struggled to contain his emotions following Milan's stylish victory over the Argentine giants in front of 68,000 fans.

"I'm a very proud man," said Ancelotti, his eyes glazing as he recalled the darkness from which the club has emerged since being implicated in Italy's match-fixing scandal in 2006.

"It's been such a long and difficult road. I'm happy and proud that we have been able to overcome every obstacle along the way and achieve this success in Japan."

Milan began the 2006-07 season with an eight-point penalty but their initial ban from the Champions League was overturned on appeal and they went on to win the competition.

"We had to battle to get here. But we got a measure of revenge on Liverpool, and on Boca too, so those bitter memories are behind us."

EXORCISED DEMONS

Milan's 2-1 win over Liverpool in Athens in May finally exorcised the demons of their traumatic loss on penalties two years earlier.

The Milanese also avenged their 2003 defeat by Boca in the Club World Cup's forerunner, a one-off game between the champions of Europe and South America.

Beating Boca after Liverpool and Barcelona had slipped up in 2005 and 2006 gave Milan a fourth "world" title after winning the Intercontinental Cup in 1969, 1989 and 1990.

However, Monday's Italian newspapers will not make comfortable reading for Ancelotti with his side languishing in 11th place in Serie A, 22 points behind leaders Inter.

"It's been a truly unforgettable year," said Ancelotti, almost in a whisper.

"But we need to improve at home and I think that winning this tournament will give us a huge lift."

The artistry of Kaka, who capped another superb individual display by setting up two goals and scoring one himself against Boca, helped boost the Club World Cup's flagging credibility.

New Zealand part-timers Waitakere United, albeit through no fault of their own, did not and FIFA may be forced to reconsider Oceania's future involvement in the seven-team tournament.

"We have to make sure to protect the competition at the highest possible level," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

"We need to have professional clubs playing." (Editing by Peter Rutherford)