Rossi has taken Palermo from the mid-table to fourth, which is good for a place in the Champions League preliminaries, after replacing Walter Zenga in the dugout in November.
His side hold a two-point advantage over fifth-placed Juventus, who were assembled with a far higher budget, but Rossi is determined not to let complacency set in.
"In cycling you get prizes for winning stages, but unfortunately in football you don't," the softly spoken former Lazio boss told reporters. "You either get there or you don't."
His side's success so far has been based on high tempo football with incisive well drilled movement from his players that has won plaudits for artistic merit as well as points.
"I don't understand why no one ever talks about me for the national team," said the 30-year-old, whose former clubs include Juventus, Fiorentina and Benfica.
"I think I'm out of time (for the World Cup). I'm a little sorry about that, I admit it."
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho will serve the final part of a three-match touchline ban when the leaders visit Catania on Friday before next week's Champions League match at Chelsea.
