Returning from Aston Villa to Southampton last January after a failed loan, Jan Bednarek found a new lease of life with the Saints, playing regular football.
He has continued that in the Championship following the team’s relegation to England’s second-tier, playing in 14 games so far this season in the league.
His regular playing time means the Southampton defender is also getting chances with Poland’s national team, and he was the designated player to face the media with his manager on Tuesday, where he was asked about life in a different league, relayed by O2.
He said: “There is definitely a difference between the two leagues. The Championship is definitely more physical. Whenever I talk to someone, I say that when we stand in a circle before a match, I feel like we are playing rugby.
“The players are tall and physically strong. There are definitely differences in quality, but the league is strong and demanding. The number of games is also physically demanding.”
Bednarek has been at Southampton since 2017 after he signed for them from Lech Poznan in a €6m deal, and has since made 187 appearances in all competitions for them, scoring four goals and assisting one other.
