Chiesa’s Commitment to Liverpool
Federico Chiesa, the Liverpool forward, has affirmed his dedication to the club amidst ongoing discussions regarding his future. The Italian international stated that he is solely “thinking about Liverpool” and is focused on proving himself under the new management of Andoni Iraola.
Chiesa joined Liverpool from Juventus for a fee of £12.5m and is currently under contract until 2028. Over two seasons at Anfield, he has made 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals. During this period, he started one Premier League game.
In June, Chiesa had expressed a conditional outlook on his future, stating, “If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere.” However, his recent comments suggest a renewed focus on his role at Liverpool.
A New Chapter Under Iraola
Following Arne Slot’s dismissal, Andoni Iraola was appointed as the new manager in June, marking a new era for Liverpool. Chiesa scored in the first friendly match under Iraola, a 4-2 victory against Sunderland in Nashville. This performance appears to have boosted his morale and reinforced his commitment to the club.
“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything,” Chiesa told reporters after the friendly. He added, “I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see. At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”
The 28-year-old acknowledged the frequent “fresh starts” in his career but emphasized his determination to perform for the new manager. “Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager,” Chiesa remarked.
He reflected on his previous season under Arne Slot, stating, “Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not. Of course I wanted to play more but it is what it is.” Chiesa expressed respect for the coaching decisions made by Slot, adding, “The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football. This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.”
Aspirations for the Season and National Team
Chiesa has not discussed his future with Iraola beyond tactical conversations. He noted that Iraola deployed him as a striker against Sunderland and intends to continue using him in that role. Despite being linked with a return to Serie A clubs like Como and his former club Juventus, Chiesa’s priority is to establish himself at Liverpool.
The Italian international also shared his aspirations for Liverpool’s performance in the upcoming season. He believes the club deserves more than its recent achievements, referencing their Premier League championship two years prior. “Last year, we almost went out of the Champions League spots. We were battling for fifth, which was enough at the time but as we know usually only four go in. We were lucky,” he stated.
Chiesa emphasized the need for improvement, particularly in the Champions League, after being eliminated by PSG last season. He also hopes to regain his place in the national team, having missed recent call-ups. Italy is currently seeking a new head coach after failing to qualify for the World Cup under Gennaro Gattuso. Chiesa confirmed he had spoken with Gattuso and was not physically ready at the time of previous selections, but looks forward to representing his country again, having previously won the European Championship with them.
Source: bbc.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter