Chiesa’s Ambitions Under New Leadership
Federico Chiesa, the Liverpool forward, has expressed his desire for a “new chapter” at the club under the management of Andoni Iraola. This comes after what he described as a frustrating period under former manager Arne Slot. Chiesa indicated that he believes the club was fortunate to secure Champions League qualification last season.
The 28-year-old has been linked with a potential return to Italy during the current summer transfer window. His time at Anfield over the past two years has seen him struggle for consistent playing minutes. Last season, Chiesa made 36 appearances for Slot, but only five of these were starts. He started just one Premier League game, despite the challenges Liverpool faced in attack due to injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké. His last start was in the FA Cup fourth-round victory against Brighton on February 14. Chiesa hopes that the change in head coach will bring about a positive shift in his fortunes as a Liverpool player.
Chiesa views the beginning of each year as a fresh start, acknowledging that he has experienced many such beginnings. He stated his commitment to performing his best for the new manager. Reflecting on the previous season, he mentioned his efforts under Arne Slot and his feeling of readiness for a more significant role. He understood that playing time ultimately depended on the coach’s decisions and game plans, accepting it as part of football. He now sees the current season as a new chapter with a new manager, on which he intends to focus.
Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Chiesa has not yet discussed it with Iraola, who took over from Slot in June. Their conversations have primarily revolved around tactical aspects, specifically pressing. Chiesa noted that Iraola deployed him as a striker against Sunderland and intends for him to continue in that role.
Commitment to Liverpool and National Team Aspirations
The Italy international, who has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract, has stated that his immediate priority is to demonstrate his capabilities to the new head coach rather than seeking a move back to Serie A. Both Como and his former club, Juventus, have been mentioned in connection with a potential transfer for the forward.
Chiesa affirmed his happiness at Liverpool, expressing his affection for the club, its fans, and everything associated with it. He is dedicated to maximising his opportunities at Anfield, with his current focus solely on Liverpool. He previously indicated in June that if he did not secure a substantial role this season, he might need to explore other options. Liverpool has already acquired Victor Munoz, who plays in a similar position, and is reportedly considering Bradley Barcola, despite some uncertainties surrounding that deal, even though the Paris Saint-Germain player is said to favour a move to Anfield.
Chiesa’s desire for consistency in his playing time was evident in his June remarks, where he stated his ambition to be a key player again. He highlighted the need to play more than a thousand minutes per season for his club, suggesting that limited playing time would hinder his progress. He emphasised his wish to play and indicated that if he could not find consistency in the Premier League, he would have to consider other avenues. He noted that in his debut year at Liverpool, he played very little, and the situation was similar in the last season. He planned to attend the training camp in the USA before engaging in discussions with the club and the new coach, Iraola.
Reflecting on Past Season and Future Goals
Liverpool secured qualification for the Champions League on the final day of what was described as a challenging season in May, which also marked Slot’s final game in charge. Chiesa believes this achievement was not a cause for celebration given Liverpool’s stature, stressing the need for improvement in the upcoming term.
He asserted that Liverpool deserves more, recalling their status as Premier League champions two years prior. Last season, the team narrowly avoided missing out on Champions League spots, battling for fifth place. While this was sufficient at the time, Chiesa acknowledged that typically only the top four teams qualify, suggesting a degree of luck was involved. He described the previous season as tough and underscored the necessity for better performance this season, including in the Champions League, where they were eliminated by PSG. The team aims to advance further in that competition and achieve even better results in the Premier League.
Chiesa also hopes to regain his position in the national team next season, having been absent from several recent squads. Italy is currently in search of a new head coach, following their failure to qualify for the World Cup under Gennaro Gattuso. Chiesa confirmed that he had spoken with Gattuso multiple times, but at those points, he was not physically ready. He also sustained an injury upon his return in March. He is now looking forward to playing for the national team, having previously won the European Championship with them, and finds it rewarding to play and win for his country.
Source: theguardian.com
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