Arne Slot believes worries regarding the fitness of new signing Federico Chiesa have been ‘overexaggerated’.
Liverpool completed a deal worth £10m plus £2.5m in add-ons to bring Chiesa from Juventus on Thursday, with the forward signing a four-year deal.
While there’s no questioning the talent of 51-time Italy international — who is still only 26 years old — he does come with some fitness concerns.
As per data on Transfermarkt, Chiesa has missed 91 matches for club and country since joining Juventus from Fiorentina in 2020.
While 45 of those absent matches were due to an ACL injury, there have also been various knee and muscle fatigue problems to overcome.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 16: Federico Chiesa of Juventus in action during the Serie A TIM match between Juventus and US Sassuolo – Serie A TIM at on January 16, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Chiesa injury history ‘overexaggerated’, says Slot
Nevertheless, Chiesa played 37 times for Juventus across all competitions last season, notching 10 goals and three assists, while he also featured in all four of Italy’s games at Euro 2024 over the summer.
Slot isn’t worried about Chiesa’s injury history, accusing many in the media of ‘overexaggerating’ things.
“It wouldn’t be the first time the English media overexaggerate!” Slot told reporters at his Friday press conference (via the Liverpool website).
“I think it is true he had a long-term injury with his ACL, but for the rest I don’t think he had big injuries. Minor injuries like every other player maybe.
“We have a lot of trust in our performance staff and the good thing is he is not the only winger we have: he is one out of four, where some others can play in that position as well.
“If he is not available at certain moments – not only with him, also the others – then there is still enough players for me to choose.”
Grab a friend to try these Deadlock duo lane picks and take a bite out of the cursed apple
A college student put on a free, stage adaptation of Silent Hill 2 'to make a truly frightening theatrical experience' all without an appearance by Pyramid Head
Meta-funded regulator for AI disinformation on Meta's platform comes under fire: 'You are not any sort of check and balance, you are merely a bit of PR spin'
Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области напоминает:
Гражданам Москвы и Московской области, получившим тяжелые производственные травмы, выданы автомобили марки «Лада Гранта»
Иномарка наехала на шедшую про тротуару женщину в центре Москвы
«До потолка прыгала!»: слушатель «Авторадио» выиграл автомобиль для любимой
Заместитель управляющего Отделением Фонда пенсионного и социального страхования Российской Федерации по г. Москве и Московской области Алексей Путин: «Клиентоцентричность - наш приоритет»
Путин заявил, что Россия готова увеличить поставки нефти и газа в Индию
Соколова по указу Путина наградили орденом Александра Невского
Путин заявил о готовности РФ помочь Африке в сфере безопасности
