Simone Zaza knows that he made a mistake in earning a red card against Genoa on Wednesday night, according to his Juventus teammate Giorgio Chiellini, who has told him to buck his ideas up.
Former Sassuolo forward Zaza showed a side of his personality that Chiellini says he needs to rein in as he was dismissed in stoppage time of the 1-0 win at the Juventus Stadium.
"He's obstinate and irritable," Chiellini said at a news conference in Turin. "I've got an excellent relationship with him and he has improved a great deal, but he still just needs to learn how to deal with certain parts of his game.
"He's got great potential and he needs to stay here with us. He knows he's made a mistake, but I'm convinced he will improve in this area. He does listen to you and follows your advice."
The red card was Zaza's first for Juve, although he had been dismissed before for Sassuolo and earned two red cards in just seven games as a youth player for Sampdoria.
His latest aberration was not costly, as Juve held on for all three points and their 13th win in succession, keeping them hot on the heels of Serie A leaders Napoli in their quest for a fifth straight Scudetto.
Few would have bet on them being in such a position when they fell 11 points off the summit after a torrid start to the season, but Chiellini says the word Scudetto is no longer taboo.
"We would prefer to win with a large margin and with a few games to go, but what matters is winning, full stop," he said. "What counts is being top at the end of the season. Being there now really doesn't count."