Chiellini mindful of dangerman Giovinco

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is wary of the threat former team-mate Sebastian Giovinco will pose in Tuesday’s clash with Parma.

Serie A leaders Juve will arrive at the Stadio Ennio Tardini full of confidence thanks to their hard-fought victory over third-placed Udinese on Saturday.

But Italy international Chiellini knows their title challenge could yet be derailed by the familiar figure of Giovinco, who joined Parma from Juve in August 2010, initially on loan.

“Parma are a great team at home,” Chiellini told Juve’s website.

“Giovinco is the star and we know him well.”

“It will be important to be able to regain our energy levels, because we’re playing every three days and this will continue until the (Coppa Italia) clash with AC Milan.”

Chiellini said morale within the club is sky high, although the squad have been taken aback by their transformation from also-rans for the past two seasons to Scudetto contenders under the guidance of new coach Antonio Conte.

“We’re performing beyond the best possible expectations,” he said.

“We were convinced that we’d be able to enjoy a great season, but we were also coming off the back of two difficult years and a lot changed in the summer.”

“We’ve done well to find an immediate balance and an identity of playing. Now we’re continuing to develop.”

“It’s a process that hasn’t stopped yet and must continue if we want to be able to achieve a dream.”

Juve go into the midweek round of games one point clear of Milan, who travel to Rome to face Lazio on Wednesday.