Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has discussed Federico Chiesa’s slow start to life at Liverpool, admitting the second half of the season is key for him.
The Italian made the move to Anfield from Juventus during last season’s summer transfer window, in what was seen as a surprise signing by some.
There were concerns that Chiesa’s injury-prone nature would be an issue for Liverpool, and he has rather predictably been unavailable more often than not, starting no Premier League games.
Speaking to the media before the FA Cup third round clash with Accrington Stanley [This Is Anfield], Slot explained Chiesa’s lack of minutes this season, backing him to come good in the coming months.
“Everybody here knows the numbers Mo Salah brings in. There’s not many times a reason to take him out during a game or before a game. It’s not only about Federico when we are talking about him being limited in his playing time. It’s also about the others.
“But in terms of Federico it definitely has to do with the way he came in, the rest were already training a lot and we had to bring him up in terms of match fitness.
“It’s a combination of reasons why he didn’t play that much yet but let’s wait and see in the upcoming weeks and months if he’s able to help us because the second half of the season is even more important than the first.”
Our thoughts on Chiesa’s Liverpool future…
It is encouraging to hear Slot speak positively about Chiesa but he also seemed coy about him, perhaps hinting that there may not be a future for him if he can’t stay fit.
Liverpool are already being linked with a move for Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, which could suggest that the former Juve may move on at the end of the season, so there need to be big improvements.
Chiesa is clearly a top-quality footballer when he is fit, performing so impressively for Italy during Euro 2000 and being hailed as “world-class” by Alessandro Pierini, and he could be such a potent weapon off the substitutes’ bench between now and May.
