Arne Slot admits Liverpool star isn’t happy with him after ‘argument’ over decision…

Arne Slot acknowledges that Liverpool’s star player is unhappy with him following a disagreement over a decision.

Having a squad rich in talent can be both a blessing and a challenge for Arne Slot, especially after he chose to exclude Federico Chiesa from his Champions League roster.

Arne Slot confessed that Federico Chiesa was displeased after learning he was omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad.

The 27-year-old Italian forward has had a strong start to the season, netting the decisive goal in the Reds’ opening 4-2 win against Bournemouth last month.

Although he has participated in all three of the Premier League matches this season, he will not be representing the league champions in Europe due to Slot’s choice.

The Liverpool manager decided to include teenage talent Rio Ngumoha instead of Chiesa in his 23-man squad for the league phase of the competition.

The 17-year-old is not yet qualified for a homegrown position or a place on ‘List B’, as he only joined the Merseyside club last summer from Chelsea.

Chiesa would likely have been part of the squad had the club secured the deadline day acquisition of Marc Guehi, as Giovanni Leoni – who also cannot be registered on Liverpool’s Under-21s list – would have been excluded instead.

However, with the Dutchman requiring additional support in defense after the deal for the Crystal Palace captain fell through, it was Chiesa who became the casualty of Slot’s decision.

Slot addressed Chiesa’s response to his exclusion before their match against Burnley on Sunday, revealing that the forward, who has played 16 Champions League matches in his career, was unhappy about missing the opportunity to represent the club in Europe.

“Naturally, that is one of the toughest aspects of being a manager,” he stated.

“It is not always easy to inform a player that they will not play, but telling them they are not in the squad is even more challenging.

I simply explained to him the reasoning behind our decision. Naturally, he was not pleased with that.

I believe he grasped my points – though that doesn’t imply he concurred with them. He didn’t mention, by the way, that he disagreed! However, he provided the response one hopes to hear from a player, indicating he will support the team in both the cups and the league.

“That’s one thing to express, but I think he also demonstrated this by not being selected; he has been putting in significant effort these days to prepare for the upcoming matches. This is even more crucial than what a player communicates to you.”

This isn’t the first time Slot has commended Chiesa’s dedication and resolve, as he previously highlighted him after his brief appearance against Bournemouth.

“I notice a completely transformed Federico now compared to many parts of last season,” Slot remarked following the win over Bournemouth.

“It is entirely understandable since he missed the entire pre-season and then had to adapt to the Premier League’s pace in terms of the number of matches and the level of intensity.

“If he is more available, he will have greater opportunities to influence our outcomes or his playing time. But it’s essential for him to maintain the fitness he currently possesses.”

The 27-year-old will have the opportunity to showcase his abilities on the field when the Reds head to Turf Moor on Sunday, aiming for a fourth consecutive victory.