May 132015
 

Muhamed Besic believes it was his man-of-the-match display against West Brom that signalled he was finally up to speed with the Premier League.

But the popular 22-year-old says his next task is to master the art of playing in central midfield after spending most of his career in defence.

Besic admits he found his early months in England a “difficult beginning” after signing last summer but gradually the Bosnian international has got used to the rigours of a new league.

And the former Hamburg and Ferencvaros player believes Everton FC’s 0-0 draw at home to West Brom in January was the match where he began to feel as though he belonged in the Premier League.

“The Premier League is faster but now, I am used to it after nine months,” Besic told the ECHO.

“But in the beginning it was difficult because everything is fast.

“But the West Bromwich game was when I felt I was strong in this league.

“There was no particular moment when I found it difficult but, for example, when I played against Liverpool in September, you notice just how fast it is.

“I played well but after the game I felt tired and normally I don’t feel tired because I have power. It has been the small things.”

Besic added: “The style of football has changed for me and the life here is different from where I lived before.

“But these things are normal when you change country and I have had this before, when I changed form Germany to Hungary.

“The food is different and normally my mother would cook for me but she couldn’t get a visa. She has been over to visit though.”

Besic continues to put in extra work in the Finch Farm gym to improve his strength and conditioning but has revealed that he has been forced to work just as hard on other parts of his game.

The all-action midfielder has spent much of his career at centre-half but Roberto Martinez saw his potential for playing further up the pitch after an impressive World Cup campaign in Brazil last summer.

“Normally I like to play central defender but the manager thinks I am better at No6,” said Besic, who was speaking at a Homeless FA training session put on by Everton in the Community in Netherton yesterday.

“I have had to work on my positioning and early on in the season I pressed too high or got out of my position and he wants to me to be the holding midfielder and learn the position.”

But isn’t that just a sign of Besic’s natural enthusiasm?

“Yes,” he replied.

“But it is not right.

“As a central midfielder, when you think you are free to go out, this is a mistake. The manager has tried to teach me this each week.

“I knew it was going to take time.”

Besic may have taken time to come up to speed with the Premier League but he quickly came a fan favourite at Goodison.

Asked why he felt the supporters had taken to him, Besic said: “I don’t know, maybe because they like players who fight and give 100% on the pitch and I am a player like this.”

  • Besic visited a Homeless FA training centre programmes, for adults aged 16 and over who either have or are currently experiencing homelessness, in Netherton on Tuesday.

The programme is six weeks long and Everton in the Community deliver the project in conjunction with Homeless FA mentors.

Special offer on Everton flags.

 Posted by at 8:48 am

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