Federico Chiesa missed out on Liverpool's Champions League squad and he was understandably displeased with the decision, but Arne Slot was pleased with the forward's reaction
13:43, 13 Sep 2025
Arne Slot
Arne Slot made a bold call as Liverpool boss(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot has confessed that Federico Chiesa was less than pleased after being told he would not be part of Liverpool's Champions League squad.
The 27-year-old Italian forward, who scored the winning goal in the Reds' opening-day 4-2 triumph over Bournemouth last month, has had a promising start to the season.
Despite featuring in all three Premier League games so far this season, Chiesa won't be playing for the league champions in Europe due to Slot's decision.
The Liverpool manager chose to include teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha in his 23-man squad for the competition's league phase, instead of Chiesa. The 17-year-old, who joined the Merseyside club from Chelsea last summer, is not yet eligible for a homegrown place or a 'List B' spot.
If the club had managed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day, Chiesa likely would have been included in the squad. Giovanni Leoni, who is also ineligible for registration on Liverpool's Under-21s list, would have been left out instead.
Liverpool
Federico Chiesa has impressed this season(Image: Getty Images)
However, when the deal for the Crystal Palace captain fell through, Slot needed an extra player in defence, and it was Chiesa who bore the brunt of Slot's decision, reports the Mirror.
Ahead of their match against Burnley on Sunday, Slot spoke about Chiesa's reaction to his exclusion, revealing that the forward, who has played in 16 Champions League matches in his career, was unhappy about missing out on representing the club in Europe.
"Of course, that is one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager," he said. "For a player not to play, it is not always easy to tell them but not to be in the squad is always more difficult.
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"I just explained to him why we made this choice. Of course, he wasn't happy with that.
"I think he understood my arguments - that is not to say he agreed with them. He didn't tell me, by the way, that he didn't agree with them! But he gave me the answer you want to hear from a player, that he will be there to help the team in the cups and in the league.
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"That's one thing to say but I think he also showed this because he wasn't selected but he worked really hard these days to be ready for the upcoming days. That is even more important than what a player tells you."