Interviews

Lallana: Potter understands me as a player

Head coach has been excellent to work with according to Albion's summer recruit.

By Charlie Hanson • 09 October 2020

By James Boardman
Adam Lallana has made four Premier League appearances for Albion so far this campaign.

Graham Potter has helped Adam Lallana settle in with Albion, according to the midfielder.

The summer arrival has had to tailor his training schedule to ensure he’s ready to play regular football and Albion’s head coach has been happy to help.

He said, “The gaffer understands that I’m probably at a different stage fitness-wise to a lot of the other lads.

By Bennett Dean
Lallana gives out instructions during Albion's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

“I played against Manchester United and felt great and then it would have been nice to play the week after against Everton. But it took me a while to recover from the United game because it was my longest time on the pitch for seven or eight months.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time, but the manager has been fantastic. I want to train and play as much as I can, but he’s helped me and said I’m here for the long-term.

“I feel I can still have an impact around the group even when I’m not playing. The manager said I’m such a fit lad and that I don’t always have to do more work.

“It’s about doing what’s right for me and sometimes less is more. He’s been superb and hasn’t made me feel guilty about perhaps not doing so much as everyone else because I am at a different stage of my career.”

By Craig Doyle
Adam Lallana in action at St James' Park in Albion's 3-0 win.

The former Southampton and Liverpool man has been impressed with what he has seen so far but believes there are areas that Albion can still improve.

“We know as a group what we have to do better and we’ll keep working so that we don’t get punished when we play well and get the results that we deserve instead.

“We know we need to do all sides of the game to get results and I think we can improve. But it’s a process and combining that with the manager’s ideas will bring results and more points.”