Arne Slot admits Liverpool cult hero ‘not happy’ with Champions League decision

Federico Chiesa was a notable omission from Liverpool’s Champions League squad after Arne Slot decided to pick teenager Rio Ngumoha instead amid the competition’s homegrown rules

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has admitted Federico Chiesa “wasn’t happy” with his decision to exclude the Italian from his Champions League squad.

The winger one of Slot’s most high profile omissions from the list, which can include up to 25 players. However, at least eight homegrown players must be present on a team’s ‘A’ list.

A club’s B-list can include an unlimited amount of Under-21 players and that list can be updated an unlimited number of times.

But with Slot’s squad choices being restricted, he opted to leave out Chiesa amid his struggles with fitness in form since his £12million move from Juventus last summer.

Instead, he decided to take teenage star Rio Ngumoha, who has impressed since joining up with the Liverpool squad for pre-season and scored the winner against Newcastle in a 3-2 win last month.

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The exclusion leaves Chiesa in an uncertain position after already finding himself way down the pecking order under Slot at Anfield – but the Dutchman insisted he will get game time in other competitions.

“Of course it was tough for a manager, it is difficult for him,” he said when asked about his decision. “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 the league. He worked really hard in these days to be ready for the upcoming games, which is even more important than what a player tells you.”

Slot wanted Ngumoha, 17, to be involved but had to include him on Liverpool’s A list – which may have been a factor in Chiesa’s exclusion.

In order to qualify for the B list, Ngumoha had to be eligible to feature for Liverpool for two consecutive years since his 15th birthday and only joined last year.

Chiesa joins a handful of ‘bomb squad’ players who have missed out on a place in their clubs’ Champions League squads, including Tottenham’s Mathys Tel and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling.

However, there is still a chance for players to work hard and earn their place in the Champions League squad for the knockouts, when clubs will be permitted to name another three players in their A lists.

The news surrounding Chiesa comes after his Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso revealed the winger told him he “did not feel ready to return” to the national team set-up and “wants to be 100 percent”.

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