Echo: Chiesa is still likely to play for the Champions League for the Reds, and the team has multiple opportunities to adjust the roster

The Liverpool Echo talked about the situation of Reds forward Chiesa, who said that although Chiesa was excluded from Liverpool's Champions League roster, he still had the possibility of representing the Reds in the Champions League this season.

Slot selected a 23-man squad for the Champions League stage. Chiesa's absence is surprising, but this does not mean that the possibility of an Italian striker participating in the Champions League stage is completely ruled out, because this is due to UEFA regulations and Liverpool's operations on the transfer deadline.

Slott chose to rank Ngumoha ahead of Chiesa, and the young player would need to occupy one of Liverpool's 17 overseas players to be selected, although he is an Englishman and only 17 years old. Because of UEFA regulations, Ngumoha has not yet obtained local player qualifications or is included in the "B-list" because he only joined from Chelsea as a 15-year-old last summer.

On the other hand, if Liverpool successfully signs Guy, they might have included Chiesa in the lineup instead of choosing new player Leoni, who also does not qualify for Liverpool's U21 player registration. But due to the failure to sign Guy, Slot needed to add a central defender reserve, and eventually he made a difficult decision to exclude Chiesa from the Champions League roster.

Slot admitted that Chiesa was dissatisfied with it, but the coach also praised Chiesa's reaction: "Of course, this is one of the most difficult things to do as a head coach. It's already hard to tell a player that can't play, and it's even harder to tell him that he's not on the roster. I explained to him the reasons for making this choice, and of course, he wasn't satisfied with it. I think he understood my reasons, but that doesn't mean he agreed with them.

" By the way, he didn't tell me he didn't agree! However, Chiesa still gave the kind of answer you would like to hear, saying he would help the team achieve good results in the cup and league. And I think he did show it, because he worked very hard these days and was ready for the next game, which is more important than a verbal commitment. ”

Chiesa is eligible to play Burnley and has played in three Premier League games this season. However, he will not be able to participate in the first Champions League match against Atletico Madrid in the mid-week. However, according to UEFA's rules change at the last minute, Liverpool will have two chances to adjust the Champions League lineup, and even allow Chiesa to participate in the league stage for the first time.

UEFA chose to allow the club to replace a player in the league stage due to long-term injury or illness. The UEFA governing body said: "The Executive Committee approved the amendment to the rules of the men's club matches in the 25-26 season, allowing temporary replacement of a non-goalkeeper player who is unable to participate due to long-term injury or illness before the sixth round of the league stage. ”

To ensure that the roster does not decrease due to unfair factors and protect players from additional pressure, the relevant rules have been adjusted. Under this rule, if one of Liverpool's 17 overseas players suffers a long-term injury or illness before the sixth round of the Champions League match against Inter on December 9, Slot can temporarily call Chiesa to substitute.

In addition, the club can make up to three adjustments to the roster before the knockout round in February next year. Therefore, Chiesa It is still possible to enter Liverpool's Champions League roster in the middle of the season, but only if someone has made room for him out of the 17 existing overseas players.

Assuming that Liverpool successfully signed Guy in the winter window, Guy could occupy a place for the current vacant local player, and Leoni would be removed from the roster to make room for Chiesa. Another situation is that if any overseas player suffers a serious injury or transfer to leave the team in January, Chiesa can also replace their place.