Liverpool boss Arne Slot has lifted the lid on Federico Chiesa’s reaction after the Italian forward was left out of the Reds’ Champions League squad — and admitted the winger wasn’t happy with the call.
The Dutchman opted to register Rio Ngumoha instead of Chiesa for this season’s 23-man European roster, with the teenager unable to qualify for a homegrown slot after only arriving from Chelsea last summer.
Had Liverpool landed Marc Guehi on deadline day, Chiesa would likely have made the cut, with new signing Giovanni Leoni instead left off the list. But after missing out on the England international, Slot prioritised defensive cover — leaving Chiesa frustrated.
Chiesa’s Response
Slot confessed it was one of his toughest managerial calls:
“Of course he wasn’t happy. I explained why we made this choice. He understood my arguments, that is not to say he agreed. But he gave the answer you want to hear — that he’ll be there to help the team in the cups and league. And he has worked really hard to prove it.”
The Italian will at least be available for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Burnley, with Liverpool looking to resume domestic duties after the international break.
Injury Concerns
The Reds could be boosted by the return of Jeremie Frimpong, who trained this week after a hamstring issue. But there was bad news as Slot confirmed Curtis Jones has been sidelined following an injury picked up against Arsenal.
“Curtis got injured in the last game so he won’t be available. The rest have come back fit, which is not always the case after an international break.”
Deadline Day Departures
Slot also praised Harvey Elliott following his deadline day switch to Aston Villa, insisting the move was the right call for all parties after limited minutes at Anfield.
The manager highlighted Elliott’s professionalism and positive influence in the squad, even when game time was scarce:
“He deserves a big compliment. He always helped the team, even in five or ten minutes. That’s part of the success of this club.”
Slot also pointed to Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich) and Tyler Morton (Lyon) as examples of Liverpool players thriving after moving on, calling it a reflection of the club’s performance and player development setup.
