Having a team full of quality is the blessing and curse of Arne Slot after he decides to exclude Federico Chiesa from the Champions League team
Arne Slot admitted that Federico Chiesa is not satisfied after being informed that he had been excluded from Liverpool’s Champions League team. The 27-year-old Italian forward got off to a bright start to his season, winning the Reds’ opening day 4-2 last month.
He appeared in each of the first three Premier League games of the season, but he will not represent the European league champions due to slot decisions. The Liverpool boss chose to pick teenage starlet Ling Moha in front of Chiesa in a team of 23 people during the league stage of the competition.
The 17-year-old only signed the Merseyside Club from Chelsea last summer and is not yet entitled to a homemade location or a “List B” spot. If the club had concluded the deadline signed by Marc Guech on the deadline as Giovanni Leoni, Chiesa would have been included in the team — not even eligible to be included in Liverpool’s list of players under 21 years — would have been ruled out instead.
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However, it was Chiesa who fell victim to the slot verdict after the Dutchman fell.
Slot discussed Chiesa’s reaction to his omission prior to his trip to Burnley on Sunday, revealing the forward who played 16 Champions League matches in his career, but he missed out on representing the European club.
“Of course, that’s one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager,” he said. “For players who don’t play, it’s not always easy to tell them, but not on a team is always difficult,” I explained to him why I made this choice. Of course, he wasn’t happy with it.
“I think he understood my argument – it’s not that he agreed with them. He wasn’t saying he didn’t agree with them!
“That’s one thing to say, but I think he showed this because he wasn’t chosen, but he’s been working hard recently to prepare for the upcoming days, which is even more important than what players say to you.”
It wasn’t the first slot to be praised for Chiesa’s work ethic and determination as he singled out him after a cameo with Bournemouth. “We’re looking at Federico that’s completely different from most of last season,” Slot said after his victory over Bournemouth.
“It’s completely normal as he missed the entire preseason and went into Premier League rhythm in terms of game volume and intensity.
“If he’s more available, he’s likely to have an impact on our outcomes and his playing time. But that’s about staying healthy as he is now.” The 27-year-old has the chance to talk on the pitch when the Reds travel to Turf Moor on Sunday and have a chance to win four of their four wins.
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