Arne Slot admits Liverpool ace isn’t happy with him after ‘argument’

Having a squad filled with quality is a blessing and a curse for Arne Slot after he decided to leave out Federico Chiesa from his Champions League squad

Arne Slot admitted Federico Chiesa was not happy after being informed he was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad. The Italian forward, 27, has made a bright start to the season, scoring the winner in the Reds’ opening-day 4-2 victory over Bournemouth last month.

While he’s appeared in each of the first three Premier League games of the season, he won’t be representing the league champions in Europe due to Slot’s decision. The Liverpool boss opted to select teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha ahead of Chiesa in his 23-man squad for the competition’s league phase.

The 17-year-old is not yet eligible to earn a homegrown place or a spot on ‘List B’, given he only signed for the Merseyside club last summer from Chelsea. Chiesa likely would have been included in the squad if the club had clinched the deadline day signing of Marc Guehi as Giovanni Leoni – who is also not eligible to be registered on Liverpool’s list of Under-21s players – would have been left out instead.

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However, with the Dutchman needed an extra body in defence after the move for the Crystal Palace captain fell through, it was Chiesa who fell victim to Slot’s verdict.

Slot discussed Chiesa’s reaction to his omission ahead of their trip to Burnley on Sunday, revealing the forward, who has played 16 Champions League games in his career, was displeased he’ll miss out on representing the club in Europe.

“Of course, that is one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager,” he said. “For a player not to play, it is not always easy to tell them but not to be in the squad is always more difficult. “I just explained to him why we made this choice. Of course, he wasn’t happy with that.

“I think he understood my arguments – that is not to say he agreed with them. He didn’t tell me, by the way, that he didn’t agree with them! But he gave me the answer you want to hear from a player, that he will be there to help the team in the cups and in the league.

“That’s one thing to say but I think he also showed this because he wasn’t selected but he worked really hard these days to be ready for the upcoming days. That is even more important than what a player tells you.”

That isn’t the first Slot has showered praise on Chiesa’s work ethic and determination, as he previously singled him out after his cameo against Bournemouth. “I see a totally different Federico now than from large parts of last season,” Slot said after the victory over Bournemouth.

“It is completely normal because he missed out on the whole pre-season and then came into a Premier League rhythm in terms of the amount of games and in terms of intensity.

“If he is more available then he has more chances to impact our results or his playing time. But then it is about him staying as fit as he is at the moment.” The 27-year-old will have his chance to do his talking on the pitch when the Reds travel to Turf Moor on Sunday for a chance to make it four wins out of four.

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