Genoa (Italy), March 17 (IANS): Italian football club Juventus' head coach Antonio Conte has praised his side, calling them great after they beat Genoa 1-0.

Gigi Buffon, who parried an Emanuele Calaio penalty, and Andrea Pirlo, who curled in a last-minute free-kick, turned out to be the heroes for the visitors Sunday, reports Xinhua.

"Inevitably coming here and winning against a team that played the game of their lives after our run of matches with tired players, I couldn't rotate, it means only a great team could've done it," Conte said.

"Genoa were very aggressive but the forwards did very well to hold on to the ball and we had scored other goals, so I am satisfied. We could've been more precise in the final ball but they did well, both in attacking and defending."

Conte hopes his side could win a record third consecutive Serie A title to hit back at critics.

"This team is having a super-fantastic campaign and at the end of the day people have to admit it, even if they do so with a heavy heart. I hope to win the Scudetto, then it will be in the record books and the chatter will be gone with the wind," he said.

"Going at this extraordinary pace, we are pushing those behind us over the edge into depression. They will hopefully be disconcerted by this and fall behind."