Juventus can play a major role in the final destination of the Serie A title when it hosts AC Milan today, despite once again having to watch its chances of challenging for the championship disappear.
Questions have been raised over the future of coach Luigi Del Neri after a run of six defeats in 10 games, with new signings Alessandro Matri and Andrea Barzagli — brought in during the January transfer window — failing to significantly improve results.
“Unfortunately at this stage of the season we need an injection of confidence,” Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said. “When we go in front we have to do everything we can to ensure we win.”
Milan leads nearest rival Inter Milan by five points after it beat third-place Napoli on Monday.
Juventus currently lies seventh, two points outside the final Europa League place occupied by Roma. It is also out of the Italian Cup.
The Juventus hierarchy was particularly angered by the team’s most recent losses — away against Lecce and then at home to Bologna — which came after two consecutive wins.
“Against Lecce we didn’t run, but we fought to the end against Bologna,” midfielder Felipe Melo said. “We lost to Lecce because we were poor, but we lost against Bologna because we wasted chances.
“Everyone is responsible for this. Now we need to work hard to get ourselves out of this situation.”
Milan will be buoyant after its clinical 3-0 win over Napoli, with goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Alexandre Pato.
Boateng’s return from injury was welcome as the Ghanaian injected greater attacking verve into Milan’s midfield, while Pato’s goal was a timely riposte to rumours in Italy that he is set to leave the club.
“I just want to play,” Pato said. “We took three very important points (that go) toward winning the championship, but now we have to think about Juventus because we have to take all the points on offer.”
The rest is here:
Juventus aims to slow Milan down