Nashville: Federico Chiesa eyes new chapter at Liverpool under Andoni Iraola
Chiesa seeks fresh start at Anfield
Federico Chiesa has expressed his desire for a “new chapter” at Liverpool under new head coach Andoni Iraola, following a period of limited playing time under Arne Slot. The forward hopes for a change in his fortunes as a Liverpool player with the managerial change.
The 28-year-old Italian international, who has been linked with a return to his homeland, stated his commitment to Liverpool. He recently scored the third goal in Liverpool’s 4-2 friendly victory over Sunderland in Nashville, a match that provided an early look at Iraola’s tactical approach.
Chiesa acknowledged that he has not yet discussed his future in detail with Iraola. He mentioned that their conversations have primarily focused on tactical aspects, including pressing. During the match against Sunderland, Iraola deployed Chiesa as a striker, a role he is open to despite having played primarily as a winger throughout his career.
Despite reports linking him with clubs like Como and his former club Juventus in Serie A, Chiesa affirmed his happiness at Liverpool. He stated that his current priority is to demonstrate his capabilities to the new head coach. The forward has two years remaining on his contract with Liverpool.
Reflecting on previous season and future aspirations
Chiesa made 36 appearances for Liverpool last season under Arne Slot, but only five of these were starts. His last start came in the FA Cup fourth-round win against Brighton on 14 February. He started only one Premier League game during the season, despite the team facing injury issues in attack with players like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké.
He described the previous season as challenging, noting that Liverpool secured Champions League qualification on the final day of the season. Chiesa believes that simply qualifying for the Champions League is not sufficient for a club of Liverpool’s standing, stating that the team “deserves more.” He recalled that two seasons prior, Liverpool were Premier League champions, and last season they were battling for fifth place, which he considered fortunate enough for Champions League qualification.
Chiesa emphasized the need for improvement in the upcoming season, both in the Premier League and the Champions League, where Liverpool exited against PSG last season. He expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to compete for major trophies.
Beyond club football, Chiesa also aims to regain his place in the Italian national team. He has not added to his 51 caps for Italy since Euro 2024. He explained that he had spoken with former national team manager Gennaro Gattuso but was not physically ready at the time. He also sustained an injury in March. With Italy currently searching for a new head coach after failing to qualify for the World Cup under Gattuso, Chiesa is hopeful that strong club performances will lead to his return to international duty.
Chiesa joined Liverpool from Juventus in August 2024. He has been training with the new coach for two weeks, observing Iraola’s preference for high intensity and one-versus-one situations across the pitch. He looks forward to proving himself to the new manager and contributing to Liverpool‘s success.
He concluded by reiterating his focus on Liverpool, stating, “At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”
Source: theguardian.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
