Massimiliano Allegri says he will remain AC Milan coach for the next two years despite speculation surrounding his immediate future.
Allegri is only in his second year leading the rossoneri and won the Serie A title in his first season.
But having led the table by four points with nine games to go, Milan started to stumble and dropped points against Catania, Fiorentina and Bologna, the latter two in home games.
It means they face the prospect of finishing the season empty-handed unless they can overhaul their three point deficit to Juve over the final three matches.
But despite the somewhat surprising rumours in the local press, Allegri claims to have the backing of club president Silvio Berlusconi and chief executive Adriano Galliani.
"I've only just started working here and since I arrived the team has changed a lot, which is a journey that will continue until 2014," said Allegri.
"I have an excellent relationship with Berlusconi while I work every day with Galliani and over the last two years we've had some excellent results.
"However, it's the club that will decide but I feel good at Milan. Berlusconi has told me not to think about what's being said."
Milan host Atalanta on Wednesday while Juve entertain third-bottom Lecce.
And although Juve are clear favourites, Allegri claims the champions are still in the race.
"We're still fighting even though our chances have been reduced because there are just three games left and Juve have a three point lead as well as the advantage in the direct clashes," said Allegri.
"The only thing we can do is think about winning. There's no way I want to right off this year because it's been positive.
"We went out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals against Barcelona, we're fighting for the title and in the last two years we've garnered a lot of points and qualified directly for the Champions League group stages.
"Juve are having a great season and it's the direct clashes that have made the difference.
"We played a terrible game in Turin and in the direct clashes they got four points and we got one: which is the difference.
"And then last season we got eight points in the first five games whereas this time we managed only five.
"You throw away three points and then you find a team like Juve who are doing great things and obviously you miss those points."
Source: AFP
