Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hailed the dramatic change in Federico Chiesa's performances over the past year, highlighting his role in a crucial moment in the Premier League match where the midfielder came off the bench to help his team secure victory.
The Italian faced a tough time in his debut season at Anfield, with injuries limiting him to just 14 appearances and his only league start coming against Brighton after the title had been won.
However, his contribution proved key against Bournemouth, where he came on with eight minutes remaining with the score 0-2 and helped turn the game around.
The 27-year-old, who replaced Florian Wirtz, finished off the pass spectacularly in the 88th minute, cementing his reputation as an iconic player for fans.
With the number of forwards in the squad reduced from six to four, Chiesa, despite rumours of a possible departure a month ago, could take on a more significant role this season.
“I have a completely different player in front of me now than I did watching most of last year,” Slott said.
“It’s natural: he missed the preparation period and then tried to adapt to the rhythm of the Premier League, including the frequency of matches and the level of workload.
“If he can get on the pitch more often, he'll have more opportunities to influence the result or get more minutes. But it's critical to maintain his current physical condition.
“His fitness has improved considerably now and, as everyone has noticed, when a goal was needed, among the substitutes I only saw him and 16-year-old Rio (Ngoumoha) as attacking options.
“For me, despite Rio’s bright pre-season performances, the choice in favour of Federico was logical – and he justified the trust.”
Chiesa's compatriot Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old defender at the beginning of his career, joined the team along with him.
The talented £26m centre-back could make his debut against Newcastle on Monday after a week of training.
“He only trained with us three times,” Slot said of the Italy youth international.
“The transfer fee shows a maturity beyond his age – that's what I noticed.
“At 18, he joined the team and behaved on the field with new partners like an experienced player. His physical attributes are impressive: height, speed, confident play with the ball.
“We invested such funds for a reason – it has enormous potential.
“It also characterises the team itself. When new players arrive at the club, they immediately feel a friendly and professional atmosphere, which makes it easier to integrate into Liverpool.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
