AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic admits his bottle-kicking temper

often gets the better of him, but called on fellow coaches to “lead by

example” following a midweek bust-up between Roberto Mancini and

Maurizio Sarri.

Napoli coach Sarri was hit with a two-game Italian Cup touchline ban

and fined 20,000 euros ($21,600) after calling Mancini a “poof” during a

post-game tirade following defeat to Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The controversy has rumbled on all week, with Mancini also claiming

to have been subjected to insults of a racist nature as the pair argued

on the touchlines of the San Paolo stadium following Napoli’s 2-0 Cup

reverse.

Former Serbia international Mihajlovic lost the plot two weeks ago

when he kicked a bottle of water into the air, but the Serbian said that

is as angry as he gets.

While he refuted claims Sarri was racist, he called on both coaches to find a way to deal with tensions during key matches.

“Since I’ve been a coach I’ve had problems with water bottles!” Mihajlovic told the club’s in-house Milan Channel on Friday.

“But joking aside, I know both coaches and I can say Sarri isn’t a racist. He made a mistake and he knows it.

“As coaches, we have a duty to lead by example, even though sometimes the tension of a game makes you say things you shouldn’t.”

Mancini’s decision to reveal the extent of Sarri’s alleged tirade

after the tie kicked up a storm that led to gay rights activists calling

for stiffer sanctions.

Mihajlovic said he would not have handled the situation the same way:

“Mancini publicly said everything that happened. I would have managed

it a little differently, but maybe I’m not as sensitive.

“It was an ugly incident, but now it’s over and we can focus on football.”

Milan boosted their bid for a place in Europe next season with a

heartening 2-0 win over Fiorentina last week, but fans will be watching

for flying water bottles when the struggling Serie A giants visit Empoli

on Saturday.

Empoli, coached by Sarri until last summer, have suffered just one

defeat in their last eight outings and sit in eighth place, only a point

behind Milan, who are 12 points behind table-topping Napoli.

Marco Giampaolo’s men are notoriously difficult to beat at home,

although this season four of their seven defeats have come at the Carlo

Castellani stadium.

“Empoli are the league’s surprise package,” said Mihajlovic, who on

Friday included Luiz Adriano in his matchday squad after the Brazilian

striker’s move to Chinese side Jiangsu fell through in midweek. 

“We know we have what it takes to win, but it will be a difficult game because they’re playing well.” 

Adriano is expected to start on the bench, with Frenchman M’Baye

Niang and Colombian Carlos Bacca likely to spearhead the Rossoneri

attack despite Mario Balotelli making his return from a lengthy injury

absence last week with a cameo appearance against Fiorentina.

Mihajlovic said he welcomed the 28-year-old Adriano back to the club.

“He’s a professional, he trained with us this week and he’s fine,”

said Mihajlovic. “His transfer fell through and we’re happy he’s

returned.”