'Here, I become a striker' - Leeds United's Tarik Muharemović on Premier League adaptation
Leeds United star Tarik Muharemović has discussed the process of adapting to life in the Premier League
The top tier of English football is different to what Tarik Muharemović had previously experienced - but the Leeds United star is enjoying the change.
Prior to his arrival at Elland Road from Sassuolo in the summer, the 23-year-old had played in Italy’s top three divisions and on rung one and three of the Austrian football ladder.
A highly-rated centre-back, the Bosnia & Herzegovina international has taken to life in England like a duck to water.
Tarik Muharemović on Premier League adaptation
It has been quite the eye-opener, although Muharemović has made it clear he is a fan of the Premier League’s quirks.
He told the official Leeds website: “You enjoy playing every game. There's not one boring game. Like in every game, something happens. In every game, every 20 seconds there's a chance.
“There's no rest time, really. You're running the whole time, pressing the whole time, and obviously with the atmosphere as well. It's good.
“In Italy it's more tactical football. I think there's more defending than in the Premier League. You can't compare because it's two different types of football, and in Italy if you watch the matches back, I was never over halfway, I was never 20 metres away from the opposition goal. Here, I become a striker, but I like it. It's the style I love to play and I want to play.
“When I arrived, I was a bit, in my thoughts, 'how is the league gonna be? How would I adapt here?’, because I know everyone's talking about the Premier League being a different world in football.
“Also, the tempo is high. That's all true. The tempo is really high, but I mean, thank God I settled in. Still, I've just played a few games. It's just a start. I have to continue like this, even better if I can, till the end, but Premier League is something different.”
Tarik Muharemović already a regular
Muharemović is yet to miss a Premier League game for Leeds and has thrived in a central back three. Recently, he he has been paired with James Justin and fellow summer recruit.
Jaka Bijol has had to settle for a place on the bench and Joe Rodon has been sidelined by injury.