Federico Chiesa Player Thread (F)

Why did we sign him though?? £10m buys a lot of  Mozzarella

Salah’s competition..

Salah’s competition..

 

That was the theory but ...

He's not fit enough to lace Mo's right boot.

Why did we sign him though?? £10m buys a lot of  Mozzarella

Cheap (due to his contract situation), and the owners love cheap.
 
Thought we were crying out for his energy today. Him coming on to play on the left to work their full back and we wouldn't have been camped in our own half for the last 20.

If there is one weakness Slot has over Klopp is he seems to have less trust in players outside his regulars, and its definitely affected their performances. Harvey was amazing 9 times out 10 when he came off the bench last season (with Klopp even stating in his departure his regret in not playing him more), yet so often he has remained on the bench this season. Endo another who has barely been used as a closer. Quansah, used a lot less than last season and his confidence has clearly taken a hit.

And then there's Chiesa which is such a bizarre situation. Here is a player with world class pedigree, we were led to believe he lacked fitness so needed time, yet here we are in February with him fully fit to play 90 (which he showed in great style at PSV) yet remains on the bench while Dom is shifted over there and does absolutely nothing. The Plymouth game with its bone dry surface and the two children in midfield not progressing the ball made it very difficult for the four forwards who played that day (Jota, Chiesa, Diaz and sub Nunez) none of whom did anything.

Jota is a good finisher, but he is a lightweight who doesn't work the defenders enough, nor is he a good foil for Mo.
Nunez is a poor finisher, but he is physically strong and can work the defenders (ball needs to be played quickly into him in space though), and helps those around him such as Mo.

They are both second tier forwards.

Chiesa has been top tier, yet we have yet to see him given a proper run out with first teamers in a meaningful game.

Cheap (due to his contract situation), and the owners love cheap.
 
Thought we were crying out for his energy today. Him coming on to play on the left to work their full back and we wouldn't have been camped in our own half for the last 20.

If there is one weakness Slot has over Klopp is he seems to have less trust in players outside his regulars, and its definitely affected their performances. Harvey was amazing 9 times out 10 when he came off the bench last season (with Klopp even stating in his departure his regret in not playing him more), yet so often he has remained on the bench this season. Endo another who has barely been used as a closer. Quansah, used a lot less than last season and his confidence has clearly taken a hit.

And then there's Chiesa which is such a bizarre situation. Here is a player with world class pedigree, we were led to believe he lacked fitness so needed time, yet here we are in February with him fully fit to play 90 (which he showed in great style at PSV) yet remains on the bench while Dom is shifted over there and does absolutely nothing. The Plymouth game with its bone dry surface and the two children in midfield not progressing the ball made it very difficult for the four forwards who played that day (Jota, Chiesa, Diaz and sub Nunez) none of whom did anything.

Jota is a good finisher, but he is a lightweight who doesn't work the defenders enough, nor is he a good foil for Mo.
Nunez is a poor finisher, but he is physically strong and can work the defenders (ball needs to be played quickly into him in space though), and helps those around him such as Mo.

They are both second tier forwards.

Chiesa has been top tier, yet we have yet to see him given a proper run out with first teamers in a meaningful game.

Great post

Cheap (due to his contract situation), and the owners love cheap.
 
Thought we were crying out for his energy today. Him coming on to play on the left to work their full back and we wouldn't have been camped in our own half for the last 20.

If there is one weakness Slot has over Klopp is he seems to have less trust in players outside his regulars, and its definitely affected their performances. Harvey was amazing 9 times out 10 when he came off the bench last season (with Klopp even stating in his departure his regret in not playing him more), yet so often he has remained on the bench this season. Endo another who has barely been used as a closer. Quansah, used a lot less than last season and his confidence has clearly taken a hit.

And then there's Chiesa which is such a bizarre situation. Here is a player with world class pedigree, we were led to believe he lacked fitness so needed time, yet here we are in February with him fully fit to play 90 (which he showed in great style at PSV) yet remains on the bench while Dom is shifted over there and does absolutely nothing. The Plymouth game with its bone dry surface and the two children in midfield not progressing the ball made it very difficult for the four forwards who played that day (Jota, Chiesa, Diaz and sub Nunez) none of whom did anything.

Jota is a good finisher, but he is a lightweight who doesn't work the defenders enough, nor is he a good foil for Mo.
Nunez is a poor finisher, but he is physically strong and can work the defenders (ball needs to be played quickly into him in space though), and helps those around him such as Mo.

They are both second tier forwards.

Chiesa has been top tier, yet we have yet to see him given a proper run out with first teamers in a meaningful game.

Good post and some interesting reading.

It's no secret I rate him highly, was always one I banged on about loving to see him here, but maybe the big injury he had really has an affect on him we don't see that Arne does?

Don't agree with JD that he's not good, as he's a proven top level player but again maybe he will never find that level again but we haven't seen anything near enough to know that. But as I said Arne has and there could be something we don't see.

On those asking 'why we signed him' it's pretty clear and opportunity came up to sign what once was one of Europe's top forwards and the big injury and contract situation made it a risk worth taking.

Again very little risk signing with possible high reward that may not work out. If we didn't sign him we would have went how we were and signed no one.

His few appearances have been littered with times he's given the ball away cheaply, sometimes close to his own goal, so it's clear to see why Slot didn't trust him on the left side in the last 20.

His few appearances have been littered with times he's given the ball away cheaply, sometimes close to his own goal, so it's clear to see why Slot didn't trust him on the left side in the last 20.

Did slot really want him? I dont believe so.

Did slot really want him? I dont believe so.

Slot had no other option. Its Chiesa or no one.

That said, some people saying he is "sh*te" never really watched him play at his best.

Seriously where did they get that notion from?

Feom about four years ago pre the injury he had in Italy and actually looked a good player, rather than the shell of a player we have at the moment.

Slot had no other option. Its Chiesa or no one.

That said, some people saying he is "sh*te" never really watched him play at his best.

"Its Chiesa or no one."...basically the same thing as so far he has contributed the same as no one.

"Its Chiesa or no one."...basically the same thing as so far he has contributed the same as no one.

 

I'm not sure Arne is as bothered as many on here. He seems content with the squad he has

It's unlikely he'll ever play an integral part in any season but I still very much visualise a promising next few years for him here.

Looking more and more as though Salah's days are numbered seeing as the club aren't in any rush to extend so naturally he'll have a more equal shot at playing time.

It's unlikely he'll ever play an integral part in any season but I still very much visualise a promising next few years for him here.

Looking more and more as though Salah's days are numbered seeing as the club aren't in any rush to extend so naturally he'll have a more equal shot at playing time.

God help us

Did slot really want him? I dont believe so.

I mean I don't think he was banging down Richard Hughes' door asking him to sign Chiesa but similarly I don't think he said no and the club signed him anyway.

I think the club saw an opportunity and Slot was open to increasing the depth of the front line. Don't think the manager has been particularly impressed with him in training since he signed though. Nunez has been poor all season, Jota has been injured or poor and Diaz has just come off a 10 game run without a goal. During that time Chiesa barely got a sniff so not sure how he forces his way in here.

Once again ... why was this guy signed and why are we paying him 150k a week whilst fcuking about over money with van dijk and salah.

Slot must be finding it more difficult to look him, endo, elliott etc in the eye when all partys know only in desperate or absolutely no other option circumstances are these lads going to be used.

Think his (non) race is run here.

Slot's argument as to why he wasn't starting was Gakpo, Diaz. Neither started tonight, and he plays a non left sided player ahead of him.

It is just the weirdest treatment with a player I can remember with us.

We've had other bolloks arguments. He "looks miles off the pace" (on here tonight), yet after 80 minutes at PSV was still chasing their defenders, "But but the Plymouth game", when none of the forwards did anything (Jota, Diaz the other two starters) on a difficult surface with a midfield made up of two children, and yet unlike him they still get a go, and still don't offer enough.

Unless there is some underlying illness or injury issue (but that is negated by the 90 minutes of energy at PSV), it's been pisspoor management.

I have nothing but sympathy for the fella.

If the guy who takes training day in day out, who has first hand knowledge of the player's fitness levels, intensity and quality, decides to pick a midfielder out of position rather than selecting Chiesa, it's probably worth re-evaluating your commitment to the player.

That would be fine if the players who are on the field in his place did anything. They do not. It's Mo. It's all Mo.

And his fitness in all his displays looked good.

If this season goes tits up, the lack of using players outside the favourites will be a big reason for that.

If the guy who takes training day in day out, who has first hand knowledge of the player's fitness levels, intensity and quality, decides to pick a midfielder out of position rather than selecting Chiesa, it's probably worth re-evaluating your commitment to the player.

He also preferred Jones there to eg Diaz. It was a bit of a surprising one but I think it was more tactical than a reflection on the players. That said, Arne in general does seem reluctant to play him. He's not the only one though.

Think his (non) race is run here.

Slot's argument as to why he wasn't starting was Gakpo, Diaz. Neither started tonight, and he plays a non left sided player ahead of him.

It is just the weirdest treatment with a player I can remember with us.

We've had other bolloks arguments. He "looks miles off the pace" (on here tonight), yet after 80 minutes at PSV was still chasing their defenders, "But but the Plymouth game", when none of the forwards did anything (Jota, Diaz the other two starters) on a difficult surface with a midfield made up of two children, and yet unlike him they still get a go, and still don't offer enough.

Unless there is some underlying illness or injury issue (but that is negated by the 90 minutes of energy at PSV), it's been pisspoor management.

I have nothing but sympathy for the fella.

Banging on like you’re some sort of expert. You’ve obviously been watching another player. We don’t have a very big sample size in terms of him playing. I haven’t been impressed when he has played. I strongly suspect he hasn’t trained particularly well given his lack of minutes in the first team this season.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/08/federico-chiesas-liverpool-moment-edging-closer-in-slots-patient-plan

Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool moment edging closer in Slot’s patient plan

Jonathan Liew, The Guardian, 8 Feb.

On the face of things, Chiesa’s prolonged absence has felt a little strange – even when you take into account his lack of a pre-season, the sparkling form of Salah in his favoured right-wing position. Yes, there have been niggling injuries in the autumn, but he’s still mostly been available. Yes, Liverpool are playing brilliantly, but four competitions offers plenty of scope for rotation. Yes, he came into the campaign undercooked. But it’s been more than five months and he’s still not even making league squads. Just how much pre-season does this guy still need?

The answer, counterintuitively, lies on the pitch. In a league where the dominant tactical note is increasingly a kind of rampaging chaos, Slot’s Liverpool play complex, refined passing football: intricate rehearsed combinations, movement choreographed and drilled in painstaking detail, decision trees upon decision trees.

this is still a player with a considerable upside: verve and flair, searing acceleration, the ability to take defenders out of the game. As Spalletti puts it: “There aren’t many players who are capable of looking you in the eye and breaking through defensive lines one on one.” And – whisper it – in recent weeks, Chiesa has been showing tantalising glimpses of the player who lit up Euro 2020.

His first goal came off the bench against Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup. Then followed a full 90 minutes against PSV in the Champions League, a 3-2 defeat from which he still emerged with a great deal of credit, creating both goals for Gakpo and Harvey Elliott. It was his first full 90 minutes since Euro 2024. A trip to Plymouth on Sunday afternoon should offer another opportunity for minutes."


So he is close, or did that Plymouth game, when nobody played well given the playing conditions and the 5th tier midfield, scupper his chances? Didn't do Jota, Nunez, or any of the others who did nothing any harm so that negates that claim.

The treatment of him is bizarre. What we are witnessing is a weakness in the manager, we saw it with his mismanagement of Quansah, a player who looks unrecognisable from the one that exuded maturity and confidence under Klopp. Ditto Harvey, looked the business every time he came off the bench for Klopp, looks a shadow of the player under Slot. Klopp instilled belief in the players, all of them, Slot sidelines players and they become lesser for it. Games when Endo was not brought on as a closer (despite his excellent stats). The manager makes a decision on a player, and can be cold with it to the detriment of him and the team, which is a flaw you could never throw at Klopp.

 

One of the most pointless transfers along with that goalie….