Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi insists they can be stronger - if he leaves.

Sassuolo won 1-0 at Benevento on Monday night.

“I am proud to have won in such a difficult pitch. We could have killed the game and avoid Consigli's saves on the stoppages, but that's the picture of Sassuolo," De Zerbi told Sky Italia.

“Maybe this team will do more when I leave. We have this bitter taste in our mouth. We could have done something more, but I see a very strong team.

“We sit eight in the table, but we can do even more.

“This team is strong, but the game remained balanced for too long. We needed more wickedness to break the deadlock and kill the game earlier.

“We need to look over our shoulders. We are 11 points behind a European placement. It's a big gap at this point.

“I congratulated the lads at the end of the game, but I had to highlight what hadn't worked too.

“If I compliment them when we win and criticise them when we lose, I would be a journalist, not a coach. I must tell the guys when they make mistakes and try to improve.

“I want everyone to improve, I am seeing players with quality, and I'll never stop asking them to improve. Perhaps it's my fault if we can't go the extra mile, our playing style is demanding.

“We need to improve, have more desire to win and not concede goals, be happy with a 4-0 win, not a 4-2 win."