Levi Colwill has revealed a discussion with a Liverpool icon helped persuade him to sign a new contract at Chelsea.
The 20-year-old defender put pen-to-paper on a new six-year deal last month following a successful season-long loan at Brighton.
It was at the AMEX Stadium where Colwill went under the wing of former Reds star Adam Lallana, who advised the promising centre-back on where he should play his football.
Central to the discussion was new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino — former manager of Lallana's during his stint at Southampton.
And Lallana’s seal of approval was enough for Colwill, who was being chased by Liverpool and the Seagulls this summer, to commit his future at Stamford Bridge.
“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.”
Despite Chelsea’s indifferent start to the season, Colwill is convinced the west Londoners have the right man in the hot seat and more importantly, the manager best placed to aid his own development.
He said: “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
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