Slot: Chiesa ‘wasn’t happy’ with Champions League squad omission, but gave ‘perfect response’

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that Italy’s Federico Chiesa ‘wasn’t happy’ with the decision to leave him off the club’s Champions League squad list, but claims that the former Juventus star ‘gave the answer you want to hear’ in response. 

Chiesa joined Liverpool last summer for a fee of €15m, but has struggled to leave a lasting impression on the first team since then. 

He made just 14 first-team appearances for a total of 466 minutes across all competitions last season. He has come off the bench in all of Liverpool’s first three Premier League matches this season, claiming his first goal in the English top flight in the process, but those run-outs have lasted no longer than 11 minutes each time. 

Slot: Chiesa ‘wasn’t happy’ with Champions League cut, but gave ‘perfect response’

In a peculiar decision at the beginning of September, Chiesa was not included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad list for the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, which means that he will be ineligible to feature in Europe until the knock-out rounds, and that is only if Slot decides to make any changes to his squad. 

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, his first since the submission of the Champions League squad, Slot spoke about the choice to leave Chiesa out, and the Italian’s reaction to the decision. 

“Of course it was tough for a manager, it’s difficult for him,” Slot said (via Liverpool Echo) 

“Of course he wasn’t happy with that decision, but he understood the argument. He gave the answer you want to hear from a player, and he will be there to help in the other cups and in the league.

“He’s worked really dard in these days to be ready for the upcoming games, which is even more important than what a player tells you.”