YOKOHAMA, Japan (AFP) - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti hit back at critics of the Club World Cup after his team swept to a record fourth intercontinental title.

Ancelotti said the tournament was a "wonderful event," dismissing comments from his cross-town rival, Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini.

"Whoever says whatever, we are happy we have won," said Ancelotti after Milan's 4-2 win over Argentina's Boca Juniors.

Mancini had said the event, featuring the world's continental champions, was "absurd" and should revert to a one-off match between the European and South American title-holders.

"Done this way it looks like a friendly tournament," said Mancini, whose team leads Italy's Serie A.

"It seems absurd to me playing six games for this contest. There are only two teams that deserve to play in the final."

Waikatere United and Pachuca, champions of Oceania and Central America, were both knocked out in the first round. Milan and Boca saw off Urawa Reds and Etoile Sahel, the Asian and African title-holders, in the semi-finals.

Milan are the first European winners since the multi-team format was introduced in 2005, with South American teams traditionally taking the event more seriously.

Brazil's Internacional stunned Barcelona 1-0 last year and Sao Paulo beat Liverpool by the same scoreline in 2005.

Ancelotti hoped the victory would be a springboard to better performances in Serie A, where Milan are currently languishing in 11th place.

"This victory is an epilogue in the first half of the season. We must fight hard in the Serie A campaign after the second half starts in January," Ancelotti said.

"We have to fight better with this victory as momentum."

Ballon d'Or winner Kaka underlined his credentials as favourite for World Player of the Year by scoring once and helping the prolific Filippo Inzaghi to a brace.

"This trophy is just what we have missed," said the Brazilian, who has also helped Milan to the Champions League and Super Cup titles this season.

"We have obtained everything we should as a team."

It was Milan's 18th international trophy after their seven Champions League and European Cup titles, two Cup Winners' Cups, five European Super Cups and three Intercontinental Cups -- the most for any club and one more than Boca.

The win also avenged Milan's defeat on penalties to the Argentinians in the final of the 2003 Intercontinental Cup, the Club World Cup's previous incarnation.