RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesCHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 21: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during a training session at Endeavor Health Performance Center on July 21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
One of the best parts of having a new boss is the chance to have a reset in relationships. The new boss doesn’t know why you were performing or not under the previous management, they just know you as a warm body ready (or not) to work towards the future.
That seems to be the position that Federico Chiesa has found himself in after not being trusted by the previous coach at Liverpool, Arne Slot. After only two starts in two seasons with Slot, it looked all but decided that Chiesa would leave the Reds and look on his time with us a little less fondly. Now, with the change in command from Slot to Iraola, the Italian is focused on staying on Merseyside.
“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool,” Chiesa told the Liverpool Echo following the preseason match against Sunderland.
“I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. 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. I don’t know, it is difficult to say [if this is a fresh start]. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year.
“Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager. Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best. 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. The gaffer decided to do so, he had his game plans, 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. He put me striker today and he wants me there. The only conversations I’ve had [with Iraola] were about pressing and tactics.”
Chiesa could be called a fan favorite for this work hard mentality, so the idea of him sticking around to fight for minutes is definitely not a surprise. If anything, with the squad as thin as it is, we need more players willing to stay and fight than put one foot out the door. Especially as Liverpool look to improve after their poor season last year and fifth place finish, that Chiesa himself says we’re better than.
“Liverpool deserves more,” the Italian continued.
“Two years ago, we were Premier League champions. 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.
“It was a tough season last year and this season we need to do better, in the Champions League as well. We went out to PSG, we want to go further in the competition and then we want to even better in the Premier League as well.
“No. [fifth is nothing to celebrate][ at Liverpool, no. [Pre-season] is always hard, no? We didn’t just start, we have been training two weeks now with a new coach. We have seen what he wants. He wants high intensity, one versus one all over the pitch, that’s what we wanted to show today. Of course it is hard, it is pre-season.”
Expectations are always high at Liverpool, we didn’t get to the top of our perch without them, so knowing that Chiesa is throwing all of his chips on red is encouraging and we’ll hopefully see the benefits of that as the campaign wears on.
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