Juventus director-general Giuseppe Marotta has said that he wants coach Antonio Conte to remain at the club "for a long time to come".

Conte led the Turin giants to Serie A triumph in his debut season in 2011-12 and has guided them to a nine-point lead at the top of the league table this term.

Under the Italian, Juventus have also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season.

"Conte is a great coach and I hope he will remain at Juventus for a long time to come," Marotta told Radio Anch'io Lo Sport.

"I understand that not everyone is like [Sir] Alex Ferguson, but I am convinced that we will have him with us for many more years.

"We have created a model club and squad. There is a coach who is hungry and so are the players. Everybody plays with enthusiasm and knowledge of wearing an important jersey."

Juventus will face Bayern Munich for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.