Levi Colwill admits Adam Lallana helped convince him to stay with Chelsea this season.
The defender spent last season on-loan at Brighton with Lallana, who played for Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton.
I have had conversations with Adam," Colwill told the Mirror. And he told me about how much of a good guy he (Pochettino) was and he thinks he is a really good manager and I took that on board when I was making my decision. When I finally met him (Pochettino), I realised everything Adam said was true.
He is a great manager, really makes me feel comfortable and allows me to play my best game. I think with him at the club, it has changed so much and now we want to kick on.
I think the big thing for me is, on the first day I came in, putting an arm around me and showing me that he respects me as a person and also as a player. That allows me to work my hardest and makes me want to play my best for him.
That's a big difference, him showing that there are two sides whereas the majority of managers may just look at you like a footballer, which he doesn't. That helps me play my best football. I know I'm going to improve. I can guarantee that. He's such a good manager and he will push me, he won't let me have any off-days, that's what I need."
On Lallana's influence, Colwill added: I am someone who is a chilled person and sometimes I need someone to give me a bit of a push. And at first I did not really understand why he (Adam) was always on me.
But then once it clicked in my head, I realised that he was only trying to help me. I was happy and lucky to play alongside him and he definitely helped me."
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