Federico Chiesa relishes challenge of competition at Liverpool
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The Italy international enjoyed his best game since arriving as last summer’s sole signing with a man-of-the-match performance in Tuesday night’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win at home to Championship side Southampton.
He provided assists for British record signing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, the pair alone costing a combined £200million in a window of significant transfer business which appeared to further restrict Chiesa’s opportunities.
With £100m signing Florian Wirtz also arriving, plus the emergence of 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, the future looked bleak and the former Juventus man was linked with a swift return to Serie A.
But Chiesa – who on the day of his signing 13 months ago was captured playing You’ll Never Walk Alone as his private jet flew over Anfield – was not prepared to give up so easily.
“I play for a top club.
This is maybe one of the top three in the world,” he said.
“It’s Liverpool – of course they are going to buy top players; of course the competition is high.
If I don’t want competition, I go to another team.
“But I want the competition, I want to play here.
Competition helps you to become a better player.”
Already this season Chiesa has featured for 137 minutes and has one goal.
In the previous campaign it took him until the FA Cup third round in January to pass that mark as he struggled for match fitness, managing just 465 minutes in 14 appearances.
“I do feel much better in terms of physical ability and I think I have played more this year than last year combined.
These first few appearances this year, I have given them something but I want to keep on doing it,” he said.
“I like the chant, there is nothing wrong with it, but I have to give them more.
The support is just amazing.”
Chiesa has even taken being left out of the Champions League squad in order to fulfil UEFA’s quota on overseas players in his stride.
“Of course I was sorry that I am not part of the Champions League squad, as to play in it is every player’s dream,” he said.
“I just said to the coach ‘OK, no problem’.