Jarell Quansah rejects Liverpool theory after Reds exit leads to England World Cup chance

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SportFootballJarell QuansahJarell Quansah joined Bayer Leverkusen from Liverpool last summer, and his displays in Germany have earned him a spot in England's World Cup squadJarell Quansah doesn't believe he is a better player for leaving Liverpool, but admits he had to get away from Anfield to earn the first-team football which has taken him to the World Cup.Defender Quansah is with the England squad in the US ahead of the Three Lions' opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday evening, with England boss Thomas Tuchel rewarding the Reds Academy product for his fine displays at Bayer Leverkusen.After falling behind Ibrahima Konate and latterly Joe Gomez in Arne Slot's centre-back pecking order to play alongside Virgil van Dijk, Quansah opted to move to the Bundesliga last summer and hasn't looked back.He made 43 appearances for Leverkusen last season, with Liverpool continuing to monitor his progress having installed a £55m buyback clause in his contract.Speaking at England's training base in the US, Quansah said: “Last summer it was a really tough decision to be honest, to walk away from my boyhood club — a club I’ve been at all my life. But I just knew it was the best thing that I needed for my career, to be playing week in week out.“People who know me know I back myself no matter what and I feel like I’m capable of playing at the highest level and I wanted to show that this season.“To be rewarded being selected for the World Cup is an absolute honour and it's all down to hard work and I've put in over the past 12 months.”But the centre-back, who also provides cover at right-back for Tuchel's side, doesn't think leaving the Reds has made him a better player, just that he is benefitting from the experience of regular first-team football.“Yeah, I don't really look at it like that, to be honest.

I'm just working hard every day, working hard each game," he continued.“I feel like with every game I play, I’m getting better. I'm only young, so as long as I keep my head down, I keep grafting away, I know I’m going to be in a good place, and it's just sticking to what I know and sticking to the goals that I've set myself, and hopefully I can achieve everything I want.“It was massive for me playing in the Champions League.

We played top teams in England and we played well, so it was always good to play well in those games and you can never take those nights for granted, they're so special.“Unfortunately, we won't be doing that next season, but there's always opportunities in another environment to show yourself.“But like I say, I just need games. I needed experience and I still need games and experience to keep going.”FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!