Milan boss Ancelotti denies Zenit link

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished stories suggesting he will be the next manager of Zenit St Petersburg.

The Uefa Cup holders are currently led by Dick Advocaat but the 61-year-old Dutchman's contract expires at the end of the current Russian League season.

Ancelotti, who is the longest-serving coach in Serie A and is under contract at the San Siro until the end of next season, said: "Those are rumours without any truth.

"I am very happy at Milan and in fact I've been here seven years."

The Rossoneri's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, added: "It is a reciprocal love between Ancelotti and Milan.

"Ancelotti has been eight years at Milan. We have overcome the seven-year itch."

After making a poor start to the current campaign, the 3-0 win against Sampdoria lifted Milan up to sixth in the table, only three points behind current leaders and city rivals Internazionale.

Meanwhile, Torino president Urbano Cairo has given under-pressure coach Giovanni De Biasi a vote of confidence.

Torino are only one point above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to Cagliari, their third successive defeat.

However, Cairo said: "I have confidence in De Biasi. We will reason together in order to see where we can improve.

"I will not change the coach because it is a mistake to make fast assumptions.

"We are just at the beginning of the campaign and luck has not been on our side. We must be calm and work hard."

De Biasi replaced Walter Novellino in April and guided the club away from the relegation zone.

The 52-year-old former Levante coach is currently in his third spell as boss of Torino.

It has also been reported that former Internazionale coach Roberto Mancini is being lined up to replace beleaguered Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri by the end of the week.