Conte: If we ignore Sampdoria loss, Milan will beat us

08-Jan-2013 11:45:00 PM

The Vecchia Signora trainer believes his side must learn from their mistakes if they are to avoid defeat while he plans to rotate his squad for the cup tie

Juventus coach Antonio Conte insists his side must react to their surprise defeat against Sampdoria or risk another loss when they take on AC Milan in the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old revealed his team will lose again if they do not learn from their mistakes in the 2-1 defeat on Sunday, while he also admitted that being at the top of the Serie A table means every other team will be doing all they can to beat them.

"If we just brush off the defeat against Sampdoria, then, it means we are preparing for another defeat. Tomorrow [Wednesday] we play against Milan, a great team just like Juventus, and they will be extremely motivated," he told a press conference.

"We know that it will be very difficult to win the Scudetto again this season and we are in the same position that other teams found themselves in a year and a half ago, teams like Milan, Inter and even Napoli who were all ahead of us.

"Now we are in front and teams would like to be where we are, that is only normal if you carry the Scudetto on your shirt but, despite the five-point lead, we know that winning again will be extremely difficult."

The former Bari trainer also revealed that he plans to rotate his squad for the encounterl, while he hopes Claudio Marchisio recovers from a knee injury he suffered against the Blucerchiati to make an appearance.

He added: "I want to see some players who have played less make more progress and I expect to them to step up their game.

"Marchisio received a heavy blow to the knee cap, and has some heavy bruising which I expect will disappear over the next few days.

"I hope to have him available as soon as possible because Claudio has improved so much over the last year and a half, and I am very happy with him."

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