Conte dismisses sports betting suspicions

Juventus coach Antonio Conte insisted he is unconcerned about press reports he was involved in match-fixing, claiming he had expected people to try to disrupt his team's title run-in.

Conte woke up to newspaper reports that a player he coached at Siena last season has claimed he was aware of match-fixing at the club related to illegal sports betting.

Filippo Carobbio allegedly told investigators that Conte was complicit in an attempt to fix a match at the end of last season, after Siena had already secured promotion to Serie A.

But Conte has dismissed the claims as nothing other than an attempt to unsettle Juve in their battle with AC Milan for the scudetto crown.

"I want to make something clear, I'm here to talk about Juve-Roma, a vital match if we want to continue our dream," Conte said at Saturday's pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's visit of Roma.

"But it's inevitable that I also read today's newspapers and with regards to what Carobbio said, I have little to add.

"There's an investigation, I'm very calm and have full faith in the institutions.

"No-one has called me up until now and when they do I will have the pleasure of seeing those people and answering their questions."

Asked directly if these stories could destabilise the club, Conte was adamant.

"Not even in our thoughts, it triples our resolve, the fire in our bellies and our desire to achieve something important.

"It happens that everything and more comes from outside but that's part of the game, it just increases our determination."

With just six games left, Juve lead Milan by a point atop the Serie A tree and Conte says his team must think only of winning matches.

"We always have to win, Juve, Inter and Milan only play to win," he said.

"It's great to get to six games from the end of the season with the possibility of crowning our dream.

"It makes you proud and now the moment has arrived to give everything."
 

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