Under-fire AC Milan coach Cristian Brocchi insists his future does not depend on the result of this Saturday's Coppa Italia final against Juventus.
The 40-year-old has only been in charge at San Siro since April but Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Roma saw the Rossoneri slump to seventh in the final Serie A standings.
Brocchi has ensured a higher finish than last season, 10th under then boss Filippo Inzaghi, but speculation persists about his future.
Reports in Italy have suggested Empoli manager Marco Giampaolo is in the running should Brocchi leave Milan, but the former Lazio midfielder says he is not thinking too far ahead.
Quoted in Gazzetta Dello Sport, Brocchi said: "I've been called a lap dog, incompetent and other insults, but the president [Silvio Berlusconi] has never told me to play this way or that way.
"I don't think my future depends on the Coppa Italia final. Even if I was to win, after the initial euphoria I would hear the usual things: 'He's not at the top level, etc.'
"I'm not thinking about after the final. In any case from this experience the awareness of being a coach will stay with me."