Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is focusing on the pitch despite repeated jibes from his Juventus counterpart Max Allegri.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCinterNews, who note the complete lack of a real response from the Nerazzurri boss.

Recent weeks have seen the mind games begin from Bianconeri coach Allegri.

The veteran former AC Milan and Cagliari coach clearly appreciates the fact that it is now his team and Inter who are the main candidates to win the Serie A title.

And with the gap between the two teams as narrow as it gets, any edge could make the difference.

For the always coy Allegri, a psychological one could be the key.

The 56-year-old has not exactly unleashed any direct provocations of Juventus’s title rivals.

But the jibes have been there.

A few weeks ago Allegri had been insisting that Juventus are not serious title contenders. He stressed top four as their objective.

This was itself a kind of way to shift pressure onto Inter – who Allegri named as favourites.

But in recent weeks, the Bianconeri coach has started speaking about “cops and robbers” at the top of the Serie A table.

Simone Inzaghi Not Taking The Bait From Max Allegri – Focused On The Pitch

For his part, Inter coach Inzaghi has never exactly been one for mind games.

The 47-year-old seems to prefer a more stoic demeanour when it comes to his comments to the media. And focusing on the pitch.

That is how it’s been for the past few weeks as well.

Inzaghi has always deflected any attempts by reporters to get a soundbite response to Allegri’s jibes.

The Nerazzurri coach is focusing on work on the training ground, and his team’s many matches.

And there’s good reason for that.

Inter have had a busy schedule between Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana this month. They have a virtually must-win league match away to Fiorentina tomorrow.

Next month, the Nerazzurri will resume European action. They face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of sixteen.

And next weekend, Inter and Juventus will go head-to-head in a match that feels “like a final” in terms of its potentially decisive importance for the Serie A title race.

It could be a match in which either the approach of Inzaghi or of Allegri is finally vindicated.