Coach Roberto Mancini put the brakes on the growing euphoria after Internazionale were crowned the unofficial winter champions in Serie A.A 2-1 win over city rivals AC Milan on Sunday re-established their seven-point advantage over chasing Roma. Third-placed Juventus are eight back.

Milan are a massive 25 points adrift after losing yet another game at the San Siro on Sunday, where they have picked up five points in eight Serie A games this season.

However, Mancini is making no assumptions with the Serie A season not yet at the halfway stage.

"We have done well, without any doubt, but we are not even at the end of the first half of the season yet," he said. "There are still lots of games to play and we cannot start thinking that we have already won."

Esteban Cambiasso, who hit the winning goal courtesy of a howler from Milan goalkeeper Dida, hailed the triumph as the best possible way to finish 2007.

"It was an important victory for all our fans," he told the club's official website. "It was nice to finish off a great year in the best possible way.

"My goal? I hit the ball as hard as I could. It went in and I'm very happy because so many fans rejoiced."

Like Mancini, however, the Argentina international knows there is still a long way to go.

"This result doesn't change the value of the two teams," he warned. "We did very well and now we will enjoy this victory before we start again in January.

"The Milanese can be pleased because they have two of the strongest teams in the world."

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