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."