Vincenzo Montella believes a "new beginning" is underway at AC Milan after they qualified for the Europa League thanks to a 3-0 beating of Bologna.
Milan have not played European football since the 2013-14 campaign after finishing eighth, 10th and seventh in the previous three Serie A seasons.
However, their victory at San Siro, secured via second-half goals from Gerard Deulofeu, Keisuke Honda and Gianluca Lapadula, saw the Rossoneri guarantee sixth this season with a match to spare and a place in Europe's secondary competition next term.
"I think it has been a positive season," Montella told reporters.
"We could have done better, but this is a new beginning. Now we have to work to aim a bit higher. I am really happy for this group and I am really proud of being their coach.
"It was not easy to create a group that gives everything they have, every game.
"In the first half, we showed the right attitude but did not manage to make our chances count. I had to change something. The boys did well to put into action what I asked them.
"This is my hundredth win in Serie A, it has a special taste, for AC Milan, for the new ownership and for myself. It was not easy."
