Juventus coach Antonio Conte promised his team would not fall victim to complacency after the 2-0 win at Torino moved the Bianconeri to the brink of the Serie A crown.
The result moved Juve 11 points clear at the summit with just 12 left to play for, but Conte insisted after the game that nobody was getting carried away just yet.
“We could have settled for 0-0. Instead, we tried to win – as we always do,” he said.
“Now we just need one point and winning the Scudetto with three games remaining would be extraordinary. However, I’ll continue to hammer away at the players until we’ve won the title, and they’re fully aware of that.”
Bremen ban duo
Marko Arnautovic and Eljero Elia will not play for Werder Bremen again this season after being suspended by the club.
The pair were dropped from the first-team squad at the weekend after being involved in a police check in the early hours of Friday morning – less than 48 hours before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Director of sport Thomas Eichin said: “We have made it clear to Marko and Eljero once again that their behaviour has damaged the team in this phase.”
With three games left, Bremen are just two points above the bottom three in the Bundesliga.
Allegri grateful for banner gesture
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri expressed his appreciation for the ‘respect’ banner displayed by his club’s fans during Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Catania.
A banner demanding ‘Piu rispetto per il nostro Mister’ (More respect for our coach) was hung by Rossoneri supporters at the San Siro following speculation that the 45-year-old could be sacked in the summer.
“I appreciated the banner but there was no need,” he said.
“I know how much affection there is here. I’m the club coach and I’ll be criticised and other names will always be linked to the job and it’s been a while since the last time.”
Osvaldo defiant
Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo hopes his hat-trick in the 4-0 Serie A triumph over Siena will go some way to silencing his critics.
The striker, who has had a fractious relationship with a section of the Roma faithful, celebrated his first and third goals by putting his hand to his ear and then pointing to his name on the back of his shirt.
The 27-year-old said: “There’s always a section that unfortunately still goes against me, but I really want to wear this shirt and try to prove myself. Sometimes I can, sometimes not.
“But the desire is always there and now, fortunately and thanks to my team-mates, I scored three goals. I hope that from now on everything is a little more quiet.”
Zanetti facing a long lay-off
Inter captain Javier Zanetti ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during the 1-0 loss at Palermo on Sunday, the latest mishap in a bad season for the Nerazzurri.
Italian media speculated that the Argentine – 40 in August – could be out for up to eight months and that, considering his age, the injury could even spell the end of his career.
Zanetti dismissed the notion and said: “My aim is to return stronger than before.
“We will decide when to operate. They haven’t told me a recovery time but my career is certainly not over, the important thing is to get better.”
Zanetti was speaking after having a scan near Milan which confirmed the rupture.
Cuenca not moving
Winger Isaac Cuenca would like to remain at Ajax next season believing a further year playing for Frank de Boer’s side will help his development.
The 22-year-old has made just five appearances since joining on loan from Barcelona after suffering from knee injuries. The Spaniard played the final nine minutes of Ajax’s 2-0 win at NAC Breda last weekend.
Cuenca said: “I want to stay another year at Ajax. FC Bar-celona know what I want and the clubs are talking about it, because relationships are good, I trust that I stay.
“Because of my injury I cannot play much, but next season I want to be important. I have had fun with Ajax, feel comfortable and their style of play resembles that of Barca.”
Effenberg linked with Schalke job
Schalke director of sport Horst Heldt kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed about the possibility of his club appointing Stefan Effenberg as their coach next season.
Jens Keller is currently calling the shots in Gelsenkirchen, but his contract only runs until the end of the campaign.
Effenberg’s name was doing the rounds at the weekend and Heldt was non-committal when asked to comment on his club’s link with the former Germany midfielder.
“I don’t really have to say too much about it,” he told Sky television.
“Everybody has a right to speculate about who will be our future coach, but all I can say for certain is that nothing has been decided yet.”