Massimiliano Allegri shut down talk of a Scudetto challenge as his improving Juventus prepare to face Milan at San Siro on Sunday.
The Bianconeri are on an eight-match unbeaten run in Serie A, their longest such streak since December 2020.
Having lost three times in six matches in a tough spell in October and November, Juve have won six and drawn two to close back to within a point of the top four, with Milan seven points ahead in second and champions Inter a further two clear at the top of the table.
Allegri, though, is not prepared to look beyond the challenge of facing the Rossoneri, who have lost only once in the past four league meetings with Juve, having been beaten in 14 of the previous 17.
We re experiencing a good moment, but the path is still long because there are so many games left, and we re behind in the table, he told reporters on Saturday.
Tomorrow is a great game to play. I m sorry there are only 5,000 spectators; it would be nice to play these great events with full stadiums. It s an important match for the standings and we need to do well.
We can t get too far ahead with things. We face Milan now, who have done a great job in the past year and a half. Congratulations to Stefano [Pioli], who has done an excellent job.
We have to play an important game to keep close, to get to the end of February in the best condition in the table. We can t think too far ahead at this moment, or talk about the Scudetto.
Allegri delivered Milan their most recent league title back in 2011, after which they could only watch on as Juve embarked on a run of nine consecutive Scudetti before their run was halted by Inter last season.
Pioli s arrival has signalled a shift in the balance of power, though. Milan were second in 2020-21, a point above Juve in fourth, and are the obvious challengers to Simone Inzaghi s Inter this term.
Indeed, since the start of 2020-21, the Nerazzurri are the only side to have won more games (43) and earned more points (141) than Milan (39 wins and 127 points). In a league table of that time frame, Juve would be fifth.
Allegri suggested Juve are taking some inspiration from Milan s modern model as they look to move into a new era.
Milan worked well, they did things in an orderly way and they chose good players. They re fighting for the title, Allegri said.
Juve had nine wonderful years and won two trophies last season. This year, without [Cristiano] Ronaldo, there is more space for other players. We ve played games with six players between the ages of 20 and 23.
Young players give you strength, but they lack experience. You can only improve by playing matches.
The future of Paulo Dybala remains unclear but the Argentina star has history against Milan, with seven goals and five assists in 12 league games against them.
While he did not comment on contract talks with Dybala, Allegri certainly believes the forward is improving.
Paulo is better physically. He s growing, he is very calm and this helps him because he can play more freely, he said.
I would say he has less responsibility on his shoulders and I m happy with what he s doing. He will give us a lot between now and the end of the season.
