It was shocking to see that Federico Chiesa was not included in the Champions League Squad of Liverpool but Rio Ngumoha, the 17-year-old was added. There were several reports that Chiesa didn’t make the list because of his fitness and run of poor form but that is not the reason why the Italian was not included in Liverpool’s team for the UEFA Champions League this season.
The main reason why Chiesa didn’t make the cut is because UEFA rules limit teams to 17 non-locally trained players on the A-list. That means in every Champions League squad, there must not be more than 17 players who are not from the club’s country. Liverpool does not have as much flexibility because they have a large number of foreign players registered in the first-team squad, so sacrifices had to be made when the final list was submitted.
Chiesa, despite being a big-name signing and a player with European pedigree, fell victim to this quota system. Instead of leaving out younger English players like Ngumoha who count as homegrown and don’t affect the A-list restrictions, the club opted to exclude the Italian forward. It is a decision that highlights how important homegrown rules are in UEFA competitions and how managers often have to make difficult calls when shaping their squads.
For Liverpool, it also sends a clear message that they are planning long-term with their local talents while still managing the balance of senior internationals. Chiesa will still feature in domestic competitions like the Premier League and FA Cup, but unless an injury replacement opens up a slot in the European squad, he will not play in the Champions League this season.
