Manchester United and Armenian attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admitted that he was not expecting the Premier League to be as physically tough as it is.
The 28-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund last summer and after making a slow start to his campaign in England, the crafty playmaker seems to have found his best form again, highlighted with a superb goal against ex-champion Leicester City last weekend.
"When I watched the Premier League on the telly, I didn't expect it to be that hard," Mkhitaryan said, as reported by ESPN FC.
"The opponents are all physically strong, real athletes, It wasn't like that in Germany. You must be prepared for it. But I prepared myself for it."
After starting his career with Armenian Premier League club Pyunik Yerevan, Mkhitaryan sped through the ranks in some of Europe's most elite clubs including Dortmund, before securing a spot at Old Trafford.
But when asked if it was always a childhood dream of his to play for United in the Premier League, Mkhitaryan responded: "No.
"But Manchester United always belonged to the best clubs in the world for me. And Manchester United just is a bigger club than Borussia Dortmund," Mkhitaryan explained. "Everyone knows that, and you must accept it. When I received the enquiry, I knew that this would be my challenge. A new team, a new country."
The Yerevan native also rejected any notion of his transfer being due to financial incentive, stating that his move was for the purpose of career advancement and not to make the most possible money.
"If it had only been for the money, I would have joined Anzhi Makhachkala and not Dortmund from (Shakhtar) Donetsk," he said.
"But I did not want that. I wanted to continue my development. I don't want to miss anything. Life's too short to pass on something. I did not make a decision against Dortmund in the summer. It was time to take on a new challenge.
"Manchester United are not just some club. To be part of this club also means to be part of a great history. And if you can access your potential, you will always get a chance. If you don't do it, you are out of it. That's why you always have to be ready to give it your all."
