Conte rues missed chance

6 February 2012 06:08

Despite a one-point lead and a game in hand, Juventus boss Antonio Conte is hoping for more breathing space between his side and AC Milan.

Despite a one-point lead and a game in hand, Juventus boss Antonio Conte is hoping for more breathing space between his side and AC Milan.

The Serie A leaders were held to a goalless draw by lowly Siena at the Juventus Arena on Sunday in a match the Turin giants would have expected to win.

Despite nearest rivals Milan suffering a similar fate at home to Napoli with neither side able to break through in the 90 minutes, Conte saw the weekend's results as a missed opportunity.

"It's too bad, it seemed like this would be a favourable match day for us," Conte said.

"We did everything to unblock the match, but it wasn't enough - a missed chance."

"If we had taken the lead, it would have been easier to find spaces. Siena did well to defend themselves with order. Perhaps we could have played with more intensity."

Adding to Conte's frustration was a late penalty appeal for a handball by Simone Vergassola that was turned down.

"The images speak for themselves, the penalty was there. But I won't discuss the referee's performance."

Juve are still in a strong position with their one-point lead and game in hand, and Conte said he would continue to tinker with his squad and formation ahead of Sunday's game at Bologna.

"My team is already very flexible in this sense, we are alternating a three-man defence with a four-man defence. The most important thing is still the attitude with which you go on the pitch, not the statistics," he said.