Cagliari president Massimo Cellino says he never lost faith in coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri's team are now impressing after a slow start to the season.

Cellino told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Max is an educated and intelligent lad, it's rare in the world of football.

“He could have gone to Lazio. He is here to stay. He could only leave if it were to occur to me that he had started losing his identity.”