AC Milan's Leonardo believes the experience of his side will ensure they bounce back from their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Inter.

After taking charge of Milan in the summer, his first coaching job, Leonardo would have hoped for a victory over their fiercest rivals to galvanise the spirit of his team. Instead they suffered a humiliating defeat that was compounded by the first-half sending off of Gennaro Gattuso.

Leonardo admitted the defeat was a bitter blow so soon in his tenure but, after fielding nine players over the age of 29 against Inter, he believes they have the experience to turn things around when they travel to Leghorn to play Livorno tomorrow.

"The last game (against Inter) was very difficult for us and we return now with great desire," he said.

"This team has always had a positive attitude even during the match against Inter. Of course defeat always leaves some concerns, but this is a very experienced team.

"I am calm, I see the team in a positive light. I think they are working well together."

Tomorrow's match against Livorno begins an intensive period of games for Milan, congested by the start to their Champions league campaign, when they will play six times in 18 days.

Leonardo believes the lessons learned from the Inter defeat, coupled with the week off over the international break to reflect on that loss, will aid his players ahead of that busy schedule.

"We begin now an intense series of games that we must manage correctly," he said.

"The players who have remained during the international break have trained well and are fit. The players who have returned from international duty have also come back fit. This is important because we have so many games in a row."

He added: "Going forward we will always think about what happened (against Inter). We do not want to forget the derby because it can help us rectify errors that we made.

"But we cannot dwell on the game against Inter, we must use it to grow."

Milan will be without the experience of Gattuso as he serves his one-match ban for his sending off against Inter.

New Livorno midfielder Mozart is looking to make his debut for the club after arriving from Palmeiras in the summer.

The 29-year-old spent five seasons at Reggina before stints at Spartak Moscow and Palmeiras and said: "I'm happy to be back in Italy. Livorno is a very important club and I hope I can help the team do well this season.

"I feel ready to go straight on the pitch on Saturday against Milan."

Livorno will be chasing their first win of the season after a goalless draw with Cagliari on opening day was followed by a 3-1 defeat at Napoli.