Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini admits it's been a tough few months off the pitch.

It has been a mixed 2014 for Chiellini, who was at the World Cup with Italy and saw Antonio Conte resign from Juventus to be replaced by Max Allegri.

"It was unexpected and really shook everyone up, perhaps getting something more out of us than we would've otherwise had.

"Allegri did well to settle in, understand slowly how the mechanisms of the team work and then bringing in his ideas. Now we are here and the objective for 2015 is to keep winning."

Conte is said to be furious after Juventus got permission to withhold their players from an Italy get-together.

"It's an issue between the clubs and the Nazionale," said Chiellini. "We players understand both points of view. We just have to stay out of it and accept whatever decisions are made."