Juventus boss Alberto Zaccheroni has warned his players ahead of Sunday's Serie A clash against Sampdoria that they "cannot make any mistakes".
The Bianconeri's woeful season sank to a new low on Thursday when they threw away a first-leg lead to exit the Europa League at the hands of Fulham.
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Juve were expected to ease comfortably through to the quarter-finals but they were defeated 4-1 in an astonishing night at Craven Cottage which saw Fabio Cannavaro sent off in the 27th minute.
That result following a remarkable collapse at home to Siena last weekend when, despite having led 3-0, they were pegged back to somehow draw 3-3.
Zaccheroni's side are labouring in fifth place with Palermo, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot, a point ahead. More significantly, Sunday's opponents Sampdoria are a place back and only one point adrift of Juve themselves.
Zaccheroni will at least have Alessandro Del Piero to call on after controversially keeping him out of the team to face Fulham.
"I rested him in view of Sunday's match," he told his club's website. "It was the ideal match against Fulham for two semi-strikers and the first few minutes were proving us right.
"I understand the supporters' disappointment but today the team cannot be blamed for commitment or will.
"Now all we have is the championship and we cannot make anymore mistakes if we want to reach our objective."
Defender Jonathan Zebina lashed out at the club's supporters after the Italian giants' European capitulation.
The Frenchman was dismissed in stoppage time and as the right-back walked off the pitch he put his middle finger up at the travelling fans.
The 31-year-old apologised for that gesture but has urged the fans to back their team.
"I was insulted by about 30 hooligans and racists," he said. "Some came right to England, travelling thousands of kilometres to insult us.
"They started to insult both me and Felipe Melo right from the warm-up and I'm fed up with this situation.
"These people have to stop it, at the end we received more applause from the Fulham fans than from our own.
"I showed the finger, I apologise because it was not a good example for kids. But I was exasperated."
Claudio Marchisio and Vincenzo Iaquinta are doubts for the trip to Genoa after missing the Fulham match while Zaccheroni also waits on the fitness of Amauri and Giorgio Chiellini.
Samp boss Luigi Del Neri admits just to be fighting with Juve for Champions League football represents a success.
"Indeed, two months ago I would not have expected it," Del Neri said. "But now we are going through a good period and we are maintaining an above-average level.
"Juve, on the other hand, are not meeting expectations."
As for a gameplan, Del Neri added: "We must maintain a high tempo and try to make things difficult: without effort, sweat and heart, we do not win."
Samp will be without Fabrizio Cacciatore who is still struggling with a muscular problem while Nicola Pozzi and Luca Castellazzi remain long-term casualties.
