Del Neri hoping to avoid winter lapse

Juventus head coach Luigi del Neri has urged his side to maintain their impressive Serie A form ahead of the winter break.

Del Neri’s side have put in some strong displays of late, moving them up to second on the table behind leaders AC Milan, but the manager said there is always room for improvement.

“The team is playing well in all departments: we have the best attack in Italy at the moment, the defence is improving and is suffering less now than at the start of the season,” del Neri said.

“I hope we’ll keep on working well and keep on improving and try to keep the mistakes to a minimum.”

Juve travel to Chievo on Sunday in their final match before the winter break, and del Neri urged his players to stay focused.

“Well, we always have to look at it. The focus should be what Juventus is going to do tomorrow,” del Neri said.

“The team should not think about the holidays, but about the match and we should enter the pitch with the aim of winning.”

“Of course anything can happen on the pitch, but it’s essential to be focused.”

“If we close the year with a positive result, this will give the right boost for the new year.

“Therefore we hope to close the year well in order to start again with even more intensity and focus than what we have now.”

Del Neri also commented on bad boy Antonio Cassano’s mooted transfer to AC Milan, saying he believes it would be a good move for the unsettled Sampdoria striker.

“If he goes to AC Milan, the team would acquire a player with important technical skills who can compensate for the absence of Pato and Inzaghi right now,” del Neri said.

“He would have the chance to play in a team which is aiming to win the championship.”

“But a great team also imposes stricter rules: for example he wouldn’t be playing always, but he’d have to make sure he’s ready to play.”

“I believe that he has matured mentally as well and he can bring it on the pitch. I wish him good luck for his future.”