Ancelotti Cautious as Juventus Enter Title Run-In
MILAN, March 14 (Reuters) - Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti is urging his players to keep their feet on the ground as the Serie A leaders enter the title run-in as clear favourites. Juventus, six points clear of nearest challengers Lazio, are being hailed as champions elect in some quarters but Ancelotti sounded a note of caution. "It is a good situation, but nothing is secured yet," the coach said. "There are still nine games to go and it would be a mistake to attempt
calculations. We must maintain our standards in both play and in attitude."
The Turin side are unbeaten in 21 league games since they lost to Lecce on September 26.
Like Milan when they won the title last season, Juve have been piling up the points with effective, if unspectacular, football. They have the best defence in Italy, conceding just 11 goals in 25 games, but above all they have found the consistency that has eluded Serie A's
other title hopefuls. "Since the Lecce defeat we have really improved and we have achieved the consistency which is so essential to any successful season," Ancelotti said. "Now the must important thing is to keep our feet on the ground."
It has been a fascinating season so far, with all the big traditional clubs involved in the title race until this month. But recent results effectively leave Lazio as the only serious challengers to Juventus, with Inter Milan, who have the easiest games to come, as possible outsiders.
With 27 points to play for, Inter are nine points adrift while Milan and Roma trail Juve by 10 and 11 points respectively and both clubs have acknowledged they are playing for Champions
League qualification spots. What the numbers do not reveal is that Juventus face a much tougher run-in than Lazio.
Ancelotti's side play both Milan sides at the San Siro, plus home games with Parma, Fiorentina and Lazio. In contrast, Juventus are the only leading club Lazio must face on the road -- their clash on April 2 is beginning to look like a championship decider. Yet while Lazio are still involved in the Champions League, Juve are now fighting on only one front after they crashed out of the UEFA Cup with a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Celta Vigo last week.
Ancelotti believes the end of their European involvement could help them secure the title.
"I'm sure it gives us an edge from a physical point of view. We have more time available to prepare for each game and above all we have more time to recover from those little knocks
players pick up," says the Juventus coach. Juventus play a derby game against Torino on Sunday while Lazio travel to Verona.
