Federico Chiesa has recently been the talk of the town, and not necessarily for all the right reasons. There’s chatter that he might miss out on a Premier League medal if Liverpool clinches the title. But let’s be real—that’s just not true.
Chiesa’s journey at Liverpool has been bumpy, to say the least. Italy’s manager, Luciano Spalletti, has even voiced his opinion, suggesting that Chiesa has “not lived up to expectations in England.”
With all this noise, Chiesa might do well to avoid Googling his own name just now. Various outlets have speculated that he’ll miss out on a Premier League medal.
Liverpool stands 13 points clear at the top. Victory seems almost within reach, needing only seven more wins to secure the title. According to rules, players who participate in five or more league games during the season automatically qualify for a medal.
Since Chiesa’s £12.5 million transfer from Juventus, he has only made it on the field three times. This is where the rumors about him potentially missing out on a medal began.
But let’s break it down. There’s a good chance Chiesa could play in two more games this season, especially if Liverpool bag the title early. And regardless of whether he hits that appearance mark, Liverpool wouldn’t deny him a medal. They’re allotted 40 medals for players, staff, and club officials.
To date, only 21 Liverpool players have played the required five matches this season. Plus, key figures in the dugout—like Arne Slot, Sipke Hulshoff, John Heitinga, Aaron Briggs, and Fabian Otte—will also receive medals.
Essential team members like Ruben Peeters and Claudio Taffarel, who contribute significantly through training and preparation, are also expected to be honored with a medal.
When you tally it all up, Liverpool still has 12 medals to distribute. It’s unlikely they’d overlook Chiesa, or third-choice goalie Vitezslav Jaros for that matter. Alongside Jayden Danns, Chiesa and Jaros are the only squad members close to the five-game cut-off.
It’s worth recalling that back in 2019/20, Harvey Elliott didn’t initially get a Premier League medal due to only having played twice, despite being on the bench nine times. However, he later received one from Liverpool’s unused medal pool, much like Andy Lonergan, who didn’t play any minutes but still got one.
Clubs also have the option of ordering extra medals beyond the 40 given by the league if they choose.
The narrative that Chiesa will miss out on a medal is just clickbait designed to stir the pot.
Chiesa has been part of the matchday squad for 12 league games this season. That’s the fewest among senior outfield players, but not by much. For context, it’s only five fewer than Joe Gomez and six fewer than Conor Bradley.
Harvey Elliott might have played 10 games, but his total time on the field is only 51 minutes more than that of Chiesa, the Italian winger.
In essence, don’t buy into the hype that Chiesa won’t be medaled as a Premier League champion with Liverpool. The numbers and past club practices speak for themselves.
