2 days Ago
NEW Saints boss Ivan Juric revealed he can talk to veteran midfielder Adam Lallana as though he was his assistant. Juric admitted the 36 year old will help Saints with "many things" as they look to mount an improbable escape from relegation. The former Liverpool and Brighton man played the final 10 minutes, including additional time, against West Ham on Boxing Day.
He nearly reached a through ball from Tyler Dibling but the teenager put too much power on his pass in the final stages. Asked how much Lallana can help this young Saints group, Juric explained: "He can help me in many things, like a player, he did well today (against West Ham). "He's a clever guy with big experience.
Sometimes I have a feeling that I can speak with him like he was my assistant, maybe. He told me very interesting things." Lallana has sat alongside first-team coaches while on the bench in games this season and is viewed as a mentor for Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw.
Interim boss Simon Rusk held conversations with Lallana and club captain Jack Stephens to determine what the group needed following Russell Martin's sacking. In his first press conference, Juric explained that he would speak to all players at Southampton - young and old - to get their perspective. "I speak with everybody, experienced players, but even youngsters sometimes are clever and they see things.
I never make a difference between youngsters and older players," he said..
