Arne Slot on Federico Chiesa: Managing Fitness Challenges and Building Towards Consistency

Liverpool manager Arne Slot remains cautiously optimistic about Federico Chiesa’s potential impact at Anfield, despite the Italian winger’s ongoing injury concerns. Slot’s acknowledgement of Chiesa’s lack of pre-season preparation and lingering fitness issues sets a realistic yet hopeful outlook as the international break approaches.

Chiesa’s Limited Appearances and Slot’s Balanced Approach

Since joining Liverpool from Juventus in August, Chiesa has faced limited time on the pitch. His sole start saw him playing 59 minutes in Liverpool’s dominant 5-1 win over West Ham in the Carabao Cup, following a brief but impactful cameo in the Champions League clash against AC Milan, which Liverpool won 3-1. However, due to a disrupted pre-season, Chiesa has struggled to meet the physical demands of Slot’s high-intensity system and has missed multiple league and cup matches, including an upcoming clash with Aston Villa.

Slot addresses this challenge directly, explaining, “I would not use the word concern but it is far from ideal for him and us. Because with the injury of Diogo [Jota], we have four attackers available, so this could have been a great moment for him to get more playing time.” He acknowledges the balancing act required, expressing confidence in Chiesa’s efforts and determination to regain full fitness and match-readiness.

Building Physical Readiness Amid Injury Struggles

Slot’s remarks shed light on the unique difficulty facing players who miss pre-season. For Chiesa, the lack of summer preparation has hindered his adaptation to Liverpool’s pace and demands. Slot elaborates, “It is difficult for a player who missed out on pre-season and playing pre-season games and training sessions. You have to give a player more time to get to the intensity levels. It is a difficult balance to get him where we want but we are trying and he is trying everything he can to get to these levels.”

Slot suggests that Chiesa’s recovery and integration into the team are ongoing projects, but he remains confident that once the winger achieves the necessary fitness level, Liverpool will see his full potential. “Once he is at that physical level we will benefit from having him. At this moment we expect him back during the international break and then he should be with us after the international break normally,” he adds, suggesting that the team’s post-break plans include Chiesa as a significant contributor.

Learning from Feyenoord’s Success and Applying it at Liverpool

Reflecting on his prior experience at Feyenoord, where Slot led the club to the Eredivisie title in the 2022/23 season, the Liverpool manager is careful not to make direct comparisons. His previous season with Feyenoord was marked by a unique mid-season World Cup, which allowed for an extended break that served as a reset for the squad. Liverpool’s current scenario is markedly different, with only a single high-profile summer signing, Chiesa, who has yet to feature consistently.

“That is a difficult one because that was a very strange season,” Slot notes when asked if his Feyenoord success informs his Liverpool approach. “That was the season there was a World Cup [mid-season] so after that game against Excelsior [when we went top], we had seven or eight weeks off, a complete pre-season again. And in that moment that helped that team a lot because we had brought in 15 new players during the summer.” Slot’s experience with an almost entirely new squad during a highly unusual season contrasts with his current Liverpool team, which has seen limited changes and far fewer injuries outside of Chiesa and Jota’s setbacks.

Slot’s Vision for Liverpool Post-International Break

As Liverpool heads into the international break, Slot remains focused on getting Chiesa fit and ready to join the attack fully. With Liverpool competing on multiple fronts, including the Premier League and Champions League, Chiesa’s availability could be pivotal. Slot’s philosophy is clear: patience with players facing fitness issues is crucial for building a resilient and cohesive squad.

Slot’s approach to Chiesa’s integration embodies a balanced blend of pragmatism and optimism, highlighting his managerial style in handling challenging player fitness situations. Liverpool fans will undoubtedly watch with keen interest as the international break approaches, hoping that Chiesa’s return will add further firepower to an already impressive campaign.