Juventus star Diego has lauded team-mate Alessandro Del Piero - claiming the Italian veteran is an inspiration to him.

"Del Piero is a source of inspiration for me," Diego is quoted as saying by Il Corriere dello Sport.

"I am honoured to be able to interact with a player of his class.

The former Werder Bremen playmaker went on to throw his backing behind young coach Ciro Ferrara. Despite a positive start to the season, the Bianconeri have not won for over a month and the pressure is beginning to mount on the team.

"This is his first experience [in management]. But he has great potential. He knows exactly what is needed to get the most out of a player," the Brazilian said.

"He took care of me and he quickly gave me the feeling that I was part of the squad. This is important for a player, particularly if you're new.

"I admire him and I can still learn a lot from him," Diego concluded.