When a player joins a club as big as Liverpool, expectations run high.
But sometimes, things don’t click right away.
That’s been the case for Federico Chiesa, who has had a tough time finding minutes on the pitch during Liverpool’s strong Premier League campaign this season.
Chiesa’s Struggles to Break Into a Star-Studded Liverpool Lineup
Since arriving last August from Juventus for £10 million, Chiesa’s journey at Liverpool has been anything but smooth.
He came into the club not fully fit—his time at Juventus was limited under coach Thiago Motta, and he missed pre-season entirely.
This left him playing catch-up in terms of fitness, making it even harder to displace Liverpool’s in-form attackers.
In fact, Chiesa has only managed 41 minutes of Premier League action this season.
He wasn’t even on the bench during the recent 2-2 draw against Arsenal, highlighting just how tough the competition has been for him.
Arne Slot Confident in Chiesa’s Future at Liverpool
Despite the limited game time, Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot is clear that Chiesa still has a future at the club.
He openly challenged the winger to prove his worth this summer and said he believes every player at Liverpool has a future if they show what they can do.
Slot explained that while Chiesa wasn’t fully fit for much of the season, he’s gradually improved and now the next step should be giving him more playing time.
While that hasn’t happened during the regular season due to fierce competition, Slot said pre-season will be a key opportunity for Chiesa to build up his fitness and stake his claim for a bigger role.
Fierce Competition on Liverpool’s Wings Keeps Chiesa on the Sidelines
One of the main reasons for Chiesa’s limited minutes is the incredible form of Liverpool’s attacking players.
On the left wing, he’s competing with Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Luis Diaz—three players who have all had standout seasons.
Slot acknowledged the challenge openly, saying Chiesa has the quality but was simply behind the others in fitness and form.
He also noted that resting key players like Salah or Van Dijk has been a tough call because Liverpool’s chances of winning are significantly higher when these stars are on the pitch.
Pre-Season Could Be Chiesa’s Time to Shine
Looking ahead, Slot emphasized that pre-season will be crucial for Chiesa and other squad players who need more chances to impress.
He believes this time can allow them to build up their fitness, gain confidence, and show the manager why they deserve more minutes next season.
In the end, Slot remains positive about Chiesa’s future at Liverpool—but the player himself will need to make the most of the opportunities coming his way.