Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has revealed he had a tough time adapting to playing in England, facing top strikers.
The Serbian centre-back has enjoyed huge success at Old Trafford and is regarded as one of the Premier League’s best defenders. But he has revealed it was tough to adapt to when he first joined the Red Devils.UFABET
“You have to adapt and change. If you go to Italy, it’s a different story.”
Vidic said during an interview with former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand.
“If you expect players to adapt to your game like Berba (Dimitar Berbatov) does. Because Berba believes players should adapt to his game because he understands the way he plays best.”
“That’s the problem for him – players who don’t like that style want the ball at their feet and he often passes the ball to others to run. But sometimes others will tell him to run. Sometimes you have to do both. To be accepted into the team you have to do it both ways.”
“When I came here I had a problem not playing on the big stage in Europe. I played in Russia, so the players didn’t know my game. I didn’t start well, so I had to adapt, train hard, find my way, build confidence. First passes, headers, slowly you can do it.”
“I watch the games of the teams I’m going to play in the next game to prepare myself. Because I don’t know many of the players I’m going to play. One game I played Berba, who I know won’t run in behind, then Peter Crouch, then a quick player like Craig Bellamy – every game I’m playing different players.”
“If you play in Italy, you have similar players, number nines who run into the ball or cut in behind, players who are versatile. So I have to learn all the players and try to understand how they play.”