http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/klopp-joining-liverpool-took-lallana-12434349
Jurgen Klopp has praised Adam Lallana’s courage in moving away from the ‘comfort zone’ of Southampton, believing the move to Liverpool has changed his career for the better.
“I don’t know, I’m not here long enough to know why Southampton fans react as they do but he is a boy from the region, that’s how it is,” Klopp said. “His friends and family all come from there, he comes from there and with his quality I can imagine everybody at Southampton thought he could be the player for the next 10-15 years to build a team around. That is how it is.
“But actually I’m really happy he decided differently and wanted to see something else and wanted another challenge and experience. He has made outstanding, big steps from an already high level, that is not always expected, and you cannot be sure he would have done the same at Southampton.
“Sometimes different circumstances help you with this. In the first year here, I’m not sure how long exactly because I wasn’t here, I heard that nobody was really happy about his performances and especially himself probably, from what I know of him.
“So it’s clear he needed this kind of step back to make the next step in the right direction. He left the comfort zone, if you want.”
Lallana had been with Southampton since he was 12 years old, and made his debut in August 2006.
Regarded as a wide playmaker during his time there, his game has transformed under Klopp in a central midfield role.
He is now crucial to both club and country, and his manager thinks – in time – those who used to watch him at St Mary’s will come to appreciate his talent.
“That is a difficult decision for both sides but I would hope that at some point they can be proud again that a boy from their region is rated so highly in English football,” he added. “Probably one day when they sit at home and think back they will think it’s nice that he made this development.”
Lallana is likely to be one of three former Saints players returning to their former club for the first leg, along with Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne.
Jurgen Klopp has praised Adam Lallana’s courage in moving away from the ‘comfort zone’ of Southampton, believing the move to Liverpool has changed his career for the better.
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“I don’t know, I’m not here long enough to know why Southampton fans react as they do but he is a boy from the region, that’s how it is,” Klopp said. “His friends and family all come from there, he comes from there and with his quality I can imagine everybody at Southampton thought he could be the player for the next 10-15 years to build a team around. That is how it is.
“But actually I’m really happy he decided differently and wanted to see something else and wanted another challenge and experience. He has made outstanding, big steps from an already high level, that is not always expected, and you cannot be sure he would have done the same at Southampton.
“Sometimes different circumstances help you with this. In the first year here, I’m not sure how long exactly because I wasn’t here, I heard that nobody was really happy about his performances and especially himself probably, from what I know of him.
“So it’s clear he needed this kind of step back to make the next step in the right direction. He left the comfort zone, if you want.”
Lallana had been with Southampton since he was 12 years old, and made his debut in August 2006.
Regarded as a wide playmaker during his time there, his game has transformed under Klopp in a central midfield role.
He is now crucial to both club and country, and his manager thinks – in time – those who used to watch him at St Mary’s will come to appreciate his talent.
“That is a difficult decision for both sides but I would hope that at some point they can be proud again that a boy from their region is rated so highly in English football,” he added. “Probably one day when they sit at home and think back they will think it’s nice that he made this development.”
Lallana is likely to be one of three former Saints players returning to their former club for the first leg, along with Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne.
