Demarai Gray has opened up on how difficult spells eventually worked out perfectly with a move to Everton.
The winger made the switch to Goodison Park from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, becoming Rafa Benitez's third signing as Blues manager in quick succession following the arrivals of Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic.
The 25-year-old was handed his full debut for the club in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton and impressed many fans in his first appearance since leaving the Bundesliga.
Gray spoke to the club's official programme before last weekend's game and explained how his move to Germany was initially difficult, but revealed how turning down another Premier League offer at that time has now perfectly led him to Everton.
The Blues star remarked: "It [moving to Germany] was difficult at the beginning. You feel sorry for yourself, at times, and the Covid situation made it tougher.
"But I took myself out of my comfort zone and had to mature. My girlfriend came out after a while and I began adapting to the culture and German life.
"I learned a lot from it. I recognised I am a home person and need my family around me. In Birmingham, I had my mum and nan and uncle 15 minutes away, so I could relax.
"Out there, you go to work, get back, eat, sleep and repeat.
"It was toughened up my thought processes and turned me into more of a man, I think. And the way things have worked out is perfect.
"If I chose the other option it wouldn't have been possible to make it happen when Everton wanted me.
"Growing up, if someone mentioned Everton I'd think, 'Yeah, big club, good club, when Goodison is bouncing it is really bouncing'.
"Coming here was an easy decision."
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Gray's move to Bayer Leverkusen came after a period of struggling to consistently find a place in the Leicester side at the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
The winger admitted that it was a tough spell for his career and knows that he probably made some wrong decisions that he would not repeat if given his time again.
"Any time you go on the pitch and touch the ball, it is the way to keep going, because of your natural love of the game," the 25-year-old added.
"But it got to the point where I lost the love for it. It is a team game and I never want to cause any problems. My attitude is good.
"But if you are not being rewarded for training well, you ask yourself, 'What's the point?'.
"You have to find it in yourself to stay strong - if you go in and sulk it is a wasted day. But it is how you are feeling and coping at home. At the start, I didn't cope well.
"I probably made the wrong decisions...but I don't regret it - it is part of learning.
"If I am in that situation again, I have to focus on getting back in the team, not waste time making the wrong decisions."
Having come through at a young age with Birmingham City, Gray has often experienced a high level of expectation around his career and the level he can potentially reach.
With his time at Leicester City being heavily scrutinised in this sense, the winger admitted that he did let negative comments affect him in the past.
However, as he has grown and matured over the years, he has learned to simplify football much more.
He added: "Every young player will enjoy the hype - you start to recognise your potential and how people see you.
"But the minute there is a dip, the player starts questioning themselves. I was thinking, 'Am I this? Am I that? Am I disappointing people?'
"As you mature, you understand it doesn't matter.
"You have to enjoy the game to get the best out of yourself. I used to look for the praise and the negative comments,. I would let the negative things affect me.
"But it is a waste of mental energy, isn't it? I want to do what my manager and team need from me.
"Then, ultimately, I'm doing this for myself and my family.
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"Sometimes, I think about how I'd feel if I don't achieve what I know I can.
"That scares me, because I know when I finish my career, I wouldn't be satisfied. I put pressure on myself because I know my capabilities. But you have to simplify football, not complicate it. I have the approach of just going out and playing.
"It is what I have done since I was four. What is different 20 years later? I am in the best league in the world and am pretty sure that is a compliment to my talent."
