Arne Slot Delivers His Opinion on Chiesa’s Full Debut – Reveals What Made Him Happy

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expressed his delight with Federico Chiesa’s impactful full debut in the 5-1 victory over West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Chiesa, who had previously made brief appearances against AC Milan and Bournemouth, was given his first start and impressed both the manager and fans.

Slot was particularly surprised by how long the Italian winger managed to stay on the pitch, considering he had seen limited action in recent months. Chiesa was deployed on the right side of the attack and contributed to Liverpool’s equalizer. Though initially a shot, his volley into the ground set up Diogo Jota, who headed in to level the score at 1-1.

According to stats from FotMob, Chiesa only made 12 pass attempts, completing nine of them (82%), yet he still managed to create two goal-scoring chances in his 59 minutes of play. Slot admitted that Chiesa lasting nearly an hour was unexpected, given his lack of playing time recently.

“It was great to see him play 60 minutes,” Slot told reporters after the match. “He hasn’t had many minutes over the last few months, so it’s important for him to not only gain match fitness but also to get those playing minutes under his belt. Today, he got that chance.”

Slot also acknowledged Chiesa’s contribution to the equalizing goal, humorously adding, “He assisted, even though it was technically a shot that Jota turned into a goal!”

The coach went on to praise Chiesa’s work ethic, noting that while he’s not at peak performance yet, that is to be expected as he adjusts to his new surroundings. “He needs time to get used to the club, his teammates, and our playing style, but it was very encouraging to see how match-fit he already is. That means we can rely on him when we need him,” Slot explained.

Chiesa’s enthusiastic approach has clearly had a positive impact on the squad, making him a lively presence both on and off the pitch. Slot is hopeful that the Italian will continue building on this solid start and gradually become a more regular feature in the lineup.

Though Chiesa may return to the bench for Saturday’s game against Wolves, it’s likely he will have another opportunity to make an impact as a substitute at Molineux, as he works his way into more consistent contention for a starting spot.