Chiesa wants ‘new chapter’ with Iraola after confusing spell under Slot at Liverpool | Liverpool

Federico Chiesa has said he wants a “new chapter” at Liverpool with Andoni Iraola following a difficult period under Arne Slot and said the club were lucky to qualify for the Champions League last season.

The Liverpool striker has been linked with a move back to Italy this summer as he struggled for two minutes at Anfield. Chiesa made 36 appearances in the slot last season, a healthy return on paper, but only in five starts.

He started one Premier League game last season despite Liverpool’s problems in attack with injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké, and his last start was in the FA Cup fourth round win against Brighton on 14 February. A change in head coach, Chiesa hopes, will bring about a change in the economy as a Liverpool player.

“It’s always a fresh start at the start of the year,” said the 28-year-old, who finished Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Sunderland in a friendly in Nashville on Saturday. “Maybe there were a lot of new beginnings [for him]. But I don’t care, I’m trying to do my best for this new boss.

“Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best. Last year I felt ready to take a big role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not. Yes, I wanted to play a lot but it was what it was. The gaffer had his game plans, he made his decisions, I can’t say anything about that. It’s football. This year, let’s say there is a new chapter that I will focus on as a manager.”

Chiesa admits he has not discussed his future with Iraola since the Basque coach succeeded Slot in June. “The conversations I had were about pressure and tactics,” he said. “He put me in as a striker against Sunderland and he wants me to be there.”

But the Italian player, who has two years left on his Liverpool contract, said that the most important thing for him is to prove himself to the coach instead of wanting to return to Serie A. Como and former club Juventus have been linked with the striker.

“For now, for now, I’m happy here in Liverpool,” said Chiesa. “I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. I’m doing everything I can to get a chance here. Then we’ll see. At the moment, the only thing I’m thinking about is Liverpool.”

Liverpool secured a Champions League place on the final day of a troubled season in May in what appeared to be Slott’s last game in charge. Chiesa insists it was no cause for celebration at a club of Liverpool’s stature and there must be improvement next term.

The striker said: “Liverpool deserve more. Two years ago, we were Premier League champions. Last year, we were almost out of the Champions League places. We were fighting for fifth place, which was enough at the time but as we know it’s usually only four. We were lucky.

“It was a difficult season last year and this season we need to do better, also in the Champions League. We went out to PSG. We want to go further in that competition and we want to do even better in the Premier League.”

Chiesa hopes that next season he will be in the national team again, he is looking for a new coach who failed to qualify for the World Cup under Gennaro Gattuso, who was recently missed by many squads.

Explaining, he said: “The situation is that I spoke to the manager Gattuso a few times, I was not physically ready at that time, when I came back in March I was unfortunately injured, but I am looking forward to playing for the national team, I have won with the national team. [the European Championship]. It’s always nice to play and win for your national team.”