“It’s a dream come true. I will give everything for this shirt,” confessed Chiesa in his presentation with Liverpool. In football, as in life, decisions mark the destiny of each player and, in his case, it seems that not everything is working out as expected. During the final stretch of the market there were serious options for it to end up in Barcelona. But, finally, he answered Arne Slot’s call to sign for a Liverpool where he has barely played three games at the start of the season.
Chiesa, in his presentation with LiverpoolMARCA
Getting attached to the wheel of a team that is ‘flying’ is always much more complicated than doing so in one where it is urgent to find solutions to change the dynamics. Chiesa’s case is also especially delicate. He arrived at Anfield on August 29 for 12 million euros… but without doing preseason after being sidelined by Thiago Motta at Juventus.
“It is difficult for a player who has not been able to do the preseason and has not been able to play or train. We have to give him more time to reach the levels of intensity that we need,” said Slot. Let us remember that he even had to train with the reserve team on some occasions.
We must give it more time to reach the intensity levels we need.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager
His debut was made to wait until September 17 during Liverpool’s visit to the San Siro. It was merely testimonial, since he barely played a minute against a Milan against which he had scored seven goals in his previous 13 games. Just a few days later he made his debut in the Premier in the 3-0 win over Iraola’s Bournemouth. Slot gave him about 20′ and he was close to making his debut as a ‘net’ with a shot that ended up crashing against the wood.
A line of ascending prominence that culminated with his first start against West Ham. However, he didn’t even suit up for the next game against the Wolves and Slot has ‘forgotten’ about ‘Fedex’ ever since.
Chiesa, during a training session with LiverpoolLIVERPOOL FC
It is true that he suffered a small blow to his ankle from which he has not yet recovered 100%. But, at a time where Jota was injured and Darwin has not finished ‘breaking through’, Chiesa has not been able to take that step forward. So much so that, today, it is the last element in the rotation of an attack that works as a ‘shot’.
“I wouldn’t use the word worry. But the situation is far from ideal for him and for us. This could have been a great moment for him to get more playing time,” Slot said recently.
The situation is far from ideal for him and for us
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager
Destined to be Italy’s reference after the Euro Cup that he signed in 2021, Chiesa has not attended any of the three calls for the current edition of the Nations League. His physical condition is not quite as desired and, from England, they point out that a specific training plan has been designed for him in Liverpool. In any case, the rumors that placed him away from Anfield in January are denied.
It seems difficult that the level that Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski are showing would have fared much better if there had been a landing at Can Barça. He still has time to turn things around and at least become an important element of Liverpool’s rotation. But, for now, Chiesa has not finished starting at Anfield.