After being left out of the Juventus squad, Italy international Federico Chiesa has moved to Liverpool and is facing his first challenge in England. He has missed pre-season and has been out of condition, even coming off the bench for a number of games.
A combination of illnesses and other problems seems to have taken their toll, with the 27-year-old winger only making four appearances and playing a combined total of 123 minutes. At the turn of the season, the transfer is by no means a success.
His role as a reserve for Mohamed Salah has also not been fulfilled. Luciano Spalletti, the coach of the Italian national team, praised the player’s ability, but said that the current challenge is that he must continue to play on a consistent basis.
“He goes beyond the obstacle, creates opportunities for the team, stares at you, and goes beyond, creating chances single-handedly,”
“Indeed, he must get more consistent playing time.”
When asked if the move to Liverpool was a mistake, the veteran manager responded that he could not judge at the moment, but also mentioned the Italian winger’s improvement, saying he had to develop in terms of physicality and intensity.
“I don’t know,”
“But perhaps now he knows some things that will help him develop further.”
“I think he can help any team in any league, but some steps forward in terms of physical impact are required. We struggled against France’s intensity and physicality, so this is where we need to make a step forward.”
To say he has only just joined would be an understatement, and he still needs to get used to life in England. He has come close to scoring in the games he has played in, and if he is well conditioned and ready to play on a weekly basis, more can be expected.
Will Chiesa find success at Anfield, or will he leave the team after a few years of disappointing performances?