Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has again been criticized by his fellow Serie A coaches after saying that club presidents often picked the teams in Italy.

The outspoken Portuguese, whose team is closing in on a fourth straight Serie A title, has had a number of run-ins with coaches and soccer authorities this season after being appointed at Inter in June.

"It surprises me how he has this knowledge. It doesn't seem very elegant or educated," Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni said. "He probably wanted to fire off one of his usual phrases. I don't see the motivation or the necessity."

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis sits with Donadoni on the bench since appointing the former Italy coach at the helm earlier this month.

"Mourinho's comments were pathetic," Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri added. "There was a lack of respect."

The former Chelsea coach has bemoaned the media grilling he receives in Serie A and some vague comments about his future have sparked speculation his stay in Italy will be short.

Big step

Inter meanwhile took another big step towards retaining its Serie A title with an easy 3-0 win over bottom side Reggina on Sunday.

Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, playing as an emergency centre back, clipped home after six minutes following Dejan Stankovic's clever flick before Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotted in a penalty.

Ibrahimovic then netted his 19th of the league season with a perfect chip to leave Mourinho's side close to a fourth straight scudetto.

Inter has a seven-point lead over second-placed Juventus, which sparkled in a 4-1 win at depleted AS Roma on Saturday. Nine games remain in the season, including Juventus at home to Inter on April 18.

AC Milan, in third, trails Inter by 14 points after drawing 0-0 at Napoli.

Mid-table Napoli had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in the first half when Marek Hamsik turned in Marcelo Zalayeta's header.

Midfielder Daniele Mannini started for the hosts after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week lifted his one-year suspension for arriving late for a doping test.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 24, 2009)