Forward scored in friendly win against Sunderland
Chiesa had frustrating two seasons under Arne Slot
Federico Chiesa has said he wants “a new chapter” at Liverpool with Andoni Iraola following a frustrating time under Arne Slot and claimed the club were lucky to qualify for the Champions League last season.
The Liverpool forward has been linked with a return to Italy this summer having struggled for minutes during his two years at Anfield. Chiesa made 36 appearances for Slot last season, a healthy return on paper, but only five were starts.
He started one Premier League game last season despite Liverpool’s problems in attack with injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké, and his last start came in the FA Cup fourth-round win against Brighton on 14 February. A change of head coach, Chiesa hopes, will herald a change in fortune as a Liverpool player.
“It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year,” said the 28-year-old, who produced a fine finish in Liverpool’s 4-2 friendly defeat of Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday. “Maybe there have been too many fresh starts [for him]. 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 had his gameplans, 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.”
Chiesa admits he has not discussed his future with Iraola since the Basque coach succeeded Slot in June. “The only conversations I had were about pressing and tactics,” he said. “He put me striker against Sunderland and he wants me there.”
But the Italy international, who has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract, claimed his priority is to prove himself to the head coach rather than seek a return to Serie A. Como and former club Juventus have been linked with a move for the forward.
“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool,” said Chiesa. “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.”
Liverpool secured Champions League qualification on the final day of a troubled season in May in what proved to be Slot’s final game in charge. Chiesa insists that was no cause for celebration at a club of Liverpool’s stature and there must be improvement next term.
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The forward said: “Liverpool deserves more. 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 that competition and then we want to do even better in the Premier League as well.”
Chiesa also hopes to reclaim his place next season in the national team, now searching for a new head coach having failed to qualify for the World Cup under Gennaro Gattuso, having missed out on several squads recently.
He explained: “The situation is that I spoke to the manager a few times, Gattuso, and I was not ready physically at the time. When I got back in March, unfortunately I got injured. But I am looking forward to playing for the national team. I have won with the national team [the European Championship]. It is always nice to play and win for your national team.”
