While he admits his start to life at Saints on the pitch was “tough” frontman Che Adams’s persistent hard work has paid off. It is well documented the striker took 30 games to get off the mark for the St Mary’s side, after signing for a reported £15million from Birmingham in the summer of 2019. But since that special strike against Manchester City – a 39-yard lob in front of millions watching on the BBC – the 24-year-old has never looked back. Now with seven goals in his past 15 games in all competitions, Adams has become an integral part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s setup – with Saints currently sitting in the European places in the top flight. But Adams, who now has three goals in his past four games, openly admits it was not all plain sailing when he first made the step up to England’s elite level.
Che Adams said “It was hard to get used to, I had a few conversations with the manager about how he wants me to play and how he wants the team to play. At the start it was quite tough, because it took me a lot of time to get used to the league and all the players. You’re coming up against people with big egos. Southampton are known for well-known people who are known all around the world, so it was hard at the start. But once you get to know them and know everyone’s normal, that we’re all the same, it was easy. Coming from scoring all the time to not doing it so much, it took a huge effect. I think every striker in every team wants to score goals – that’s what they’re trained to do. I think, from my side, I was probably trying a bit too hard to score goals. I was a bit naïve at times – I was snatching at things and shooting rather than passing. But I always had self-belief and I knew what I could do, and that’s why the manager brought me in, because he knew I could play a massive part in this team.”
