Andrea Pirlo insists he will not resign after Juventus fall to AC Milan

Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo has insisted he will not resign this summer, despite I Bianconeri facing an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Sunday's crushing 3-0 defeat at the hands of rivals AC Milan left Juventus fifth in the Serie A standings, one point behind the top four with three games left to play, one of which is against champions Inter.

While a spot in the top four is still obviously in reach, there's no denying that Pirlo's side have fallen well short of expectations this season. To lose the title to Inter is bad enough, but to be 16 points behind and struggling to qualify for the Champions League has left some fans calling for Pirlo's head to roll.

The rookie coach was adamant that he would not resign, however, and told Sky Sport Italia that Juve would have to sack him to get him out this summer.

"Step down? No, I wouldn't dream of it," he said. "I have undertaken this job with a lot of enthusiasm, there are difficulties but my work goes on and I am available. I think I can do better and am able to get out of the slump, together with the team. We have to look forward, I will continue to do my job as long as I am allowed.

"We had actually started fairly well in the match, but we lost our way and this was the final result. It's difficult to explain now. There were many components that didn't work."

Pirlo, whose contract has one year left to run, was then asked for an explanation as to why things haven't gone to plan this season, and he took responsibility for failing to get the most out of his squad.

"I had a different project in mind, I tried to work on certain principles but then I also had to adapt to things that have happened and I have had to review some things," he said. "I had some things in mind but with certain players it became difficult. I thought I had a different team but I have this available and I have to work with this.

"If I have not been able to get the best out of these great players, it is my fault and I take responsibility for it.

"I've asked the players to bring out their pride, something they could feel inside their stomachs: the jersey you wear is prestigious and pride can never be lacking, whether you play well or play badly.

"For the rest, the things that have happened off the pitch this season, they have not affected the locker room. The things that went wrong on the pitch are our fault, especially mine, because I am at the head of this group."

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