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Jamie Carragher says he is proud to see Liverpool set up shop at AXA Training Center, but believes it will not be easy to replicate the atmosphere of Melwood.
The Reds officially moved into their new home on Tuesday when Jurgen Klopp took over his first training session at the £ 50 million complex.
Liverpool closed the door on their historic ground for the last time last week before the move to Kirkby, where the club’s age groups will be staying alongside the senior squad for the first team in Anfield history.
Carragher spent nearly two decades at Melwood as a Liverpool player and believes it will be difficult to create the same atmosphere that existed at the famous West Derby base.
But Reds legend says the move is another indicator of the club’s growing status as one of the game’s superpowers.
Carragher told ECHO: “It won’t be easy [bring the atmosphere] because a lot was invested in Melwood in terms of memories, rooms and settings, just as you did.
“It was different. It will take a little getting used to and it’s like rebuilding that story.
“It’s like when a team moves to a new stadium, it’s still your stadium, but it’s hard to put into words, it’s just about feelings and how you feel.
“So they will have to rebuild that and how they feel about the new place and how to get used to it.
“Before you know it, you’ll feel right at home, of course, and people who haven’t been at Melwood for that long won’t have as strong an emotional bond as everyone else anyway.
“But for a lot of people, I think it will take a little getting used to.”
The new 9,200-square-meter training base features three full-size courts, warm-up areas and indoor facilities including two gyms, a full-size sports hall, swimming pool, a hydrotherapy complex and specialized sports rehabilitation suites.
Open plan rooms have been designed for gyms so that players recovering from an injury see the training fields in front of them as a source of motivation in their recovery process.
The complex also features dedicated television studios, press conference facilities and offices, while the Managers’ Gallery honors Klopp and legendary figures in club history such as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
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Carragher hasn’t visited the complex in person yet, but says he can’t wait to get the invitation.
“I have only seen images on social media or ECHO,” he added. “But I’m sure they will invite former players to see it.
“I think when so many former players have been at Melwood for so long, you always want to see the progress of the club and I’m sure this is progress.”
“It makes you very proud as the club progresses, gets bigger and better, but it will never take away the memories of the old training ground.”
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