Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri has opened up on the huge difference in training since joining the Premier League side.
Mejbri became an instant hit as a United player when he made a cameo during a battering at the hands of fierce rivals Liverpool last season.
The midfielder didn't have any impact on the game, with the Old Trafford side humbled 4-0 by Jurgen Klopp's team, but he showed more passion than his more experienced teammates to earn love from his side's fans.
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Hannibal had already shown enough skill for the youth team, linking up with Amad Diallo, to make him a highly anticipated prospect but the performance against Liverpool basically made him a cult hero.
The Tunisian was actually signed by the Premier League giants for around £10 million in 2019, joining from Monaco as a teenager.
He has now explained that the biggest change in moving from France to England came in training, when he realised how much gym work there was.
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"In France, we did not really do gym work, we did more technical things, so when I came to England and saw there was a gym, I was surprised," the 20-year-old told Sky Sports.
"I remember when I had to do my first gym session. It was really hard. I saw the other lads doing everything easily but it was really hard for me.
"I went back home that night and did some push-ups! I was doing extra to slowly get up to speed with the training."
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Mejbri is now playing on loan in the Championship with Birmingham City, where he has impressed in spells, starting 14 games for the club.
He has explained what it's like to play in England's second tier, saying, "Now if someone kicks me I have to kick them back!
"No, I have to stay in the game and show my quality first. If someone kicks you it is no problem. You have to forget and keep going.
"I think I have some good technical ability and I can play some good passes. I see things maybe earlier than some other players. But since I am in the Championship, I have seen that I need to work on my physical capabilities. It is making me a better player.
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"As a Championship No.8 you have to contest the second balls. You don't really see this dirty work as much in the Premier League, but it is really important in the Championship. If you don't pick up those second balls or win your duels you can feel it straight away."
If he comes back to play for United in the future then Liverpool players will be facing even more physicality from the young midfielder.
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Premier League, EFL Championship, Birmingham City
Ryan Sidle