Filippo Inzaghi... difficult debut as coach in Serie A.Filippo Inzaghi... difficult debut as coach in Serie A.

It has been a mixed season for Milan’s rookie coach Filippo Inzaghi but his job is safe according to chief executive Adriano Galliani as they prepare for an ominous trip to play leaders Juventus today.

Milan are eighth in Serie A after a campaign containing highs such as home wins against Lazio and Napoli and a scoreless draw at second-placed Roma.

Yet there have also been several low points including three losses in four games after the Christmas break, which has left them on 29 points, five adrift of Sampdoria, who occupy fifth place and the final certain Europa League qualifying spot.

Both Galliani and owner Silvio Berlusconi had implied in recent days that if Inzaghi wants to hold on to his job he has to find a way to make it into the top five.

Yet Galliani has changed his tune and says his manager’s future is secure.

“He’s (Inzaghi) under contract for next season and we intend to keep him here. Whether we qualify for Europe or not,” he told a news conference.

Should he change his mind, however, the manager most likely to replace Inzaghi is Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella, whose teams have produced the kind of attacking football that Berlusconi has always cherished.

A Milan victory at Juventus would certainly boost the team’s morale for the remainder of the Serie A campaign.

Last weekend’s 3-1 triumph against Parma halted a five-match winless streak for Milan and eased the pressure on Inzaghi.

“From now on, we must show the same determination we displayed against Parma,” Inzaghi said.

“I want to thank our club president (Silvio Berlusconi) for the new reinforcements.

“They are all talented and are hungry to succeed. It’s up to us now to deliver.”

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expects his former club to provide his title-chasing team with a stern test.

“This is always a tough game because it’s still Juve versus Milan,” Allegri said.

“We face a team that won its last game. Although they struggled in January, Milan did really well in December, beating Napoli and holding Roma to a draw.

“Milan have also made good signings during the winter transfer market, bringing in four international players, (Alessio) Cerci, (Mattia) Destro, (Luca) Antonelli and (Gabriel) Paletta.

“I think that Milan is a team built to fight for a European place.”

Milan and Juventus traded blows in September until Carlos Tevez was able to break the deadlock in the 71st minute to hand victory to the champions of the last three seasons.

A win for Milan would also be a fillip for second place Roma, who visit Cagliari tomorrow and are seven points adrift after four straight draws in Serie A.

Roma were eliminated in the Italian Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday in a 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina since when recently-signed forward Victor Ibarbo has been added to an increasing injury list.

Resurgent Napoli are third and only four points behind Roma, having won three games in a row.

Rafa Benitez’s side, who host mid-table Udinese this weekend, booked a place in the domestic cup semi-finals on Wednesday, after beating Inter with a late goal from Gonzalo Higuain.

Sampdoria, still seething from Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing at Torino, face dangerous Sassuolo while fourth-place Lazio play on Monday against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Verona vs Torino - 18.00
Juventus vs Milan - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Cagliari vs Roma
Empoli vs Cesena
Fiorentina vs Atalanta - 12.30
Inter vs Palermo - 20.45
Napoli vs Udinese
Parma vs Chievo
Sampdoria vs Sassuolo

Monday
Lazio vs Genoa - 20.45

Standings: Juventus 50; Roma 43; Napoli 39; Lazio, Sampdoria 34; Fiorentina 32; Palermo 30; Milan, Genoa 29; Torino, Sassuolo, Udinese 28; Inter 26; Verona 24; Atalanta 23; Empoli 20; Cagliari 19; Chievo 18; Cesena 15; Parma 9.

Serie B

Played yesterday
Trapani vs Carpi - 0-0

Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Latina
Crotone vs Bologna
Entella vs Spezia
Frosinone vs Lanciano
Livorno vs Bari
Modena vs Catania
Pescara vs Cittadella
Varese vs Pro Vercelli
Vicenza vs Perugia

Tomorrow
Ternana vs Brescia - 18.00

Leading standings: Carpi 50; Bologna 41; Livorno 37; Avellino 36; Spezia, Frosinone 35; Lanciano, Vicenza 34; Pescara, Pro Vercelli 32.

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