Slot explains why Chiesa struggling for Liverpool playing time | OneFootball

Liverpool coach Arne Slot admits Federico Chiesa has been ‘unlucky’ but is happy the Italy international was part of the squad that scored two late goals against Brentford this past weekend.

Liverpool coach Slot explained Chiesa’s struggles for playing time during a press conference on Monday, on the eve of a Champions League match against Lille.

“Every player is unique, so each one has his own background,” Slot said, via This is Anfield.

“Jota had a normal pre-season, well not normal as he was at the Euros, but he had a normal start with us and Federico did not. Federico was unlucky a few times when moments were there for him to play that he was ill or sick.”

The former Juventus and Fiorentina winger has only made six appearances with the Reds this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

Slot explains why Chiesa struggling for Liverpool playing time

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool scores his team’s fourth goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley at Anfield on January 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

He has collected 171 minutes of football with the Reds in 2024-25.

“And then we also saw how difficult it is, Jota is a great example, for a player who has been out for five, six, seven weeks, to bring him back to that load of playing every single game 60-90 minutes,” Slot continued.

“You have to be really careful with that if you don’t want to go into another injury, especially because there is no winter break and there is no time during the weeks to give them a game.

“Unless I have to play them with the U21s, but I don’t think a player like Federico Chiesa or Diogo Jota should play in those games. That makes it hard if a player gets injured to bring them back.

“Unfortunately for Federico, he has Mo Salah in front of him,” concluded Slot.

“That makes it hard for us to build him up on the right way, but I’m happy he had a good 30-45 minutes against Accrington Stanley, and although it was five minutes, he was part of the team that scored two goals [at Brentford] and he was really happy with it.”

Chiesa joined Liverpool on a permanent transfer from Juventus last summer. He was not part of Thiago Motta’s plans in Turin, so he didn’t train with the rest of the team for the pre-season.

Chiesa, an Italy Euro 2020 winner, has signed a contract until 2028 at Anfield. The Italian hasn’t played for La Nazionale since last summer’s Euros.