Chiesa overwhelmed by fan support despite limited role at Liverpool | OneFootball

Chiesa Thanks Liverpool Fans After Title Parade and Reflects on “Madness” in the City

Football is as much about people as it is points. On a rain-soaked Merseyside afternoon, a Premier League title parade became more than a celebration of silverware. It was a statement of unity, of belonging, and, for one man in particular, of gratitude.

Photo: IMAGO

Federico Chiesa, standing on the open-top bus as Liverpool’s champions rolled through the streets, offered far more than a few quotes. He delivered a heartfelt thank you to the fans, to the club, and to the moment. And in a season where his name featured more on the team sheet’s periphery than at its core, it meant everything.

Chiesa Moved by Song and Support

Chiesa’s contribution this season was modest on paper — just one Premier League start under Arne Slot — but the affection he received during the title celebrations was anything but restrained. The Italian, once a marquee signing from Juventus, has endured a difficult debut campaign. Yet the supporters made it abundantly clear: the bond they feel is not based solely on appearances.

“The song, I have to thank the fans because I didn’t play that much this year but to receive this love back from the fans is just amazing,” he said. “I have to thank them and the song has a good tune actually!”

Photo IMAGO

What stood out most wasn’t his humility or his humour, though both were present, but his pride. “I’m so proud of the team, when I first came here they just immediately made me feel part of the team and supported me during the tough times I had this year. I have to thank them all. I’m a teammate, I’m one of the boys, even if I didn’t play I tried to give my best in training.”

Difficult Start but Immense Character

The context matters. Chiesa arrived from Juventus without full match sharpness and slotted into a team undergoing change and facing fierce competition for attacking roles. Opportunities were scarce. But his resolve, evident in training, and his attitude, clear in interviews, earned him something rare and precious: respect from the dressing room and admiration from the terraces.

Photo by IMAGO

“Today is unbelievable, to celebrate such a trophy with the fans and stay on this bus with the lads it’s just incredible,” he told LFCTV. “We deserve it, my teammates were incredible this year, thanks to the coach, thanks to the staff it was an amazing achievement and they truly deserve to celebrate with the fans today.”

As the bus wound its way through a sea of red, his presence, lifted by chants from the Kop faithful, was a reminder that belonging in football is not always measured in minutes on the pitch.

Uncertain Future but Lasting Impact

Whether Chiesa remains a Liverpool player beyond the summer remains uncertain. Some believe his departure is inevitable, a consequence of limited game time and tactical reshuffles under Slot. Others, however, point to his professionalism, his spirit, and his untouched potential.

“Well actually I never won a championship, so I don’t know [how it compares],” he added with a smile when asked to compare celebrations in Liverpool and Italy. “For the European one it was really, really good but today the city is just crazy, just madness out there, it’s unbelievable.”

And that word, “madness”, might just be the best way to describe what football still does in this part of the world — and what Chiesa, even in a supporting role, contributed to.