Juve coach vows to battle on

Juve coach vows to battle on

Published Mar. 21, 2011 4:25 p.m. ET

Embattled Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri wants to see out the remainder of his contract with the Serie A giants.

The Bianconeri are 11 points behind fourth-placed Udinese in the Serie A table with nine games remaining.

A place in next season's Champions League looks to be out of reach for Del Neri's team but the coach is determined to make amends next season if given the opportunity.

"I certainly have a chance to stay," Del Neri said. "I have a contract for another two seasons, and it depends on the club, with which I have a perfect understanding."

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Del Neri replaced Alberto Zaccheroni last summer and the Turin side have had to deal with numerous injury worries this season.

The problems worsened last week when Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta sustained a thigh injury in training and was lost for the remainder of the campaign.

Leandro Rinaudo, Mohamed Sissoko and Fabio Quagliarella had already been ruled out with season-ending injuries.

"Without injuries, we would have been able to match anyone," Del Neri said. "We are missing four or five points in the standings and this is due to injuries."

Juve halted a four-game winless streak in Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Brescia.

Del Neri's team travel to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma on April 3.

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