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Arne Slot has lifted the lid on Federico Chiesa’s reaction to being left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad, revealing the winger wasn’t happy with the decision.
Chiesa was a surprise omission from the Reds’ squad for their upcoming European campaign, which gets underway on Wednesday with the visit of Atletico Madrid.
Having remained at Anfield amid speculation of an exit during the summer, Chiesa’s opportunities continue to be fleeting, with the Italian having been limited to appearances from the bench in all three of Liverpool’s Premier League games so far, despite scoring a crucial goal against Bournemouth on the opening day.
The 27-year-old has been dealt another blow after being left out of the Reds’ squad for the league phase of the Champions League, meaning he will play no part in European competition until at least February when the knockout stages begin.
Chiesa’s place in the squad has instead gone to Rio Ngumoha, with the 17-year-old having impressed during pre-season before scoring the winner at Newcastle on his Premier League debut last month.
Despite being a homegrown player, Ngumoha doesn’t fulfill the criteria set out by UEFA to be included in Liverpool’s List B, which requires players to have been born on or after January 1, 2004 and to have played for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years.
The teenager also doesn’t meet the requirements set for “locally trained players” in the List A squad, meaning he had to take a spot as one of the non-homegrown players, leaving no room for Chiesa to be included.
"Of course that is one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager,” Slot said in his press conference ahead of the game against Burnley. “For a player not to play, it is not always easy to tell them, but not to be in the squad is always more difficult.
"I just explained it to him [Chiesa] why I made this choice and, of course, he wasn't happy with that. I think he understood my arguments - that isn't to say he agreed with them, but he didn't tell me that.
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"He gave the answer you want from a player, that he will be there to help the team in the cups and in the league.
“That’s one thing to say, but I think he also showed it because he worked really hard to be ready for the upcoming games. That is even more important than what a player tells you.”
Liverpool.com says: It is a big call from Slot to side with Ngumoha rather than Chiesa in the Champions League, which not only tells you how highly rated the former is, but also that the Liverpool boss is still perhaps not all that convinced on the latter.
Chiesa will still have a part to play in the domestic competitions, but it looks like he’s got a lot to prove now if he is to have a serious future at Anfield beyond this season.
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