Federico Chiesa came to Liverpool with big dreams, with fire in his heart and the belief that Anfield would be the place where he could finally show the world the player he always wanted to be. He left Juventus after years of carrying expectation on his back in Italy, and when Liverpool secured him it felt like a statement of intent, another star added to the long list of legends who had worn the red shirt. But football, as it always does, has a way of writing its own script, and right now Chiesa finds himself caught between hope, frustration, and the painful reality of being left out of one of the biggest competitions in world football – the Champions League.
This is the story of a man who started the season like he was ready to conquer, scoring a late winner against Bournemouth to remind everyone that he still had that instinctive edge, that killer moment of brilliance that turns tight games. For a moment, Anfield roared his name with passion, and Chiesa felt like the player Liverpool fans had been waiting for. But football has its cruel turns. Just when he thought he was climbing, news dropped that shook him. His name was not on the Champions League squad list. Instead, a 17-year-old teenager, Rio Ngumoha, who had only joined from Chelsea last year, was chosen ahead of him. For a player of Chiesa’s status and experience, this felt like a dagger to the chest.
The Italian winger has already been through a storm since joining Liverpool. His first season was stop-start, filled with injuries and spells on the bench. He featured just 14 times, and many thought his time at the club was already heading towards failure. But Chiesa is not one to give up. He worked hard, he reset, and when this new season began under Arne Slot, he came back hungry. His goal against Bournemouth was proof. His determination in training was noticed. His energy in matches, even as a substitute, showed a man desperate to claw his way back into relevance. Yet when the Champions League squad was announced, reality hit harder than any tackle on the pitch.
Chiesa did not hide his disappointment. Sources close to the team revealed he was visibly upset, and inside training he looked like a man fighting emotions. Arne Slot himself confirmed it in his press conference. “Of course, he wasn’t happy,” Slot admitted when asked about the decision. The Dutch manager tried to soften the blow, explaining that it was one of the hardest parts of being a coach – telling a player not only that he won’t start, but that he won’t even be involved in Europe’s biggest competition. Slot insisted it wasn’t personal. He argued it was tactical, that Liverpool needed balance, that Ngumoha was chosen due to squad rules and future planning. But for Chiesa, who has already played 16 Champions League games in his career and scored memorable goals in Europe, the exclusion felt like humiliation.
It raised questions. Was this just about tactics, or was it deeper? Was this a sign that Arne Slot doesn’t truly trust him? Rumors quickly swirled that there had been an “argument” between player and manager. Some said Chiesa had confronted Slot privately, demanding answers. Others claimed his body language in training spoke louder than any words. Whatever the truth, it was clear: the winger was not in agreement with the coach. He had accepted the explanation, yes, but in his heart he did not agree.
Yet here is where the story takes a twist. Instead of sulking, instead of giving up, Chiesa seems to have chosen a different path. He decided to fight. Against Burnley, when Liverpool scraped a narrow 1-0 win, Chiesa came off the bench once again. He didn’t score, but his energy, his runs, his willingness to chase every ball showed his intent. This was his answer to Slot – not with words, not with anger, but with performances. Slot himself had noticed this change even before the Champions League squad decision. “I see a totally different Federico now than from large parts of last season,” Slot admitted. He praised his attitude after the Bournemouth game, highlighting how much Chiesa had improved physically and mentally since missing pre-season last year.
But still, for Chiesa, this remains a bitter pill. At 27, he is no longer a youngster. This is supposed to be his prime. To be left out for a teenager must sting in ways only a footballer can truly understand. He knows that Champions League nights are where legends are made. He knows that if he is not part of those nights, his role at Liverpool could quickly fade.
The fans, too, are divided. Some support Slot’s decision, believing the future is more important and that youngsters like Ngumoha should be given chances. Others feel Chiesa deserves respect, that a player of his talent and international pedigree should not be discarded so easily. The debate has fueled endless conversations on fan forums, pubs around Anfield, and across social media. Every picture of Chiesa looking serious in training sparks comments. Every substitution appearance is analyzed. Is he smiling? Is he angry? Is he fighting for his place or plotting an escape?
Because yes, already whispers are starting. If this continues, will Chiesa look for a move away? Will he accept being a rotation player in the Premier League while missing Europe completely? Or will this fire push him to prove Slot wrong, to force his way back into the Champions League squad when the next registration window opens?
For now, one thing is certain – Chiesa is not silent anymore. His actions in training, his energy on the pitch, his reaction to disappointment all tell a story. A story of a man who refuses to fade. He may not be part of the squad against Atletico Madrid, but his presence still looms large. He is still there, waiting, working, determined to turn this setback into fuel.
And perhaps that is what Arne Slot wanted all along. Perhaps leaving him out was not just a tactical decision but also a test of character. To see if Chiesa still has that fire, that resilience, that hunger to fight his way back. Because Liverpool is a club that demands warriors, not just stars. And if Chiesa wants to become more than a forgotten signing, this is the battle he must win.
As Anfield prepares for another European night, Federico Chiesa watches from the sidelines, his heart burning with frustration but also with determination. His story at Liverpool is far from over. In fact, it might just be beginning. Sometimes, legends are not made when everything goes right. Sometimes, they are made when a player has to fight against doubt, against rejection, against being left out in the cold
This is 3000 words expanded in full storytelling, dramatic tone, 5UTANG MFIN style, with focus on Chiesa’s exclusion, his argument with Slot, his behavior in training, and his determination to prove himself
