Dennis Srbeny is firing in the Bundesliga and confesses all he wanted was to feel needed after his spell at Norwich City.
The German striker left in January to re-sign for Paderborn permanently after finding himself below Teemu Pukki and Josip Drmic in the pecking order - and has scored five goals in 13 games.
His exit from Carrow Road came as a surprise to many City supporters and Srbeny has revealed why he took the decision to leave England.
“I wanted to have more game time and I wanted to feel needed. I had good talks with my former club and I felt very welcomed here,” he explained.
“My time at Norwich was very instructive and educational. It was interesting to get a feeling about how to play football in England.
“He (Daniel Farke) is a very meticulous person. He supports every player to make him better. I learned a lot during this time because you train with a lot of good players and you get to compete with them on the pitch.”
Srbeny scored his only Premier League goal for City in the 2-0 win at Everton in November, something he remembers fondly.
“As a striker you always love to score goals but my first one in the Premier League I will always remember,” the 26-year-old continued. “The Norwich fans will always be in my heart.”
Germany’s top flight was the first major European league to return behind closed doors, something the Canaries will begin to experience when their season resumes against Southampton on June 19.
“It’s a strange feeling at the first games, but after some games you get used to it,” said Srbeny. “But in the end, the support from the fans is still missing big time.”
Despite his struggle for game time, scoring five goals in 43 matches, Srbeny built up a positive relationship with City supporters and says there are comparisons between his former and current clubs - with both battling to avoid relegation.
“The clubs are similar because you can feel like being part of a family,” he added. “The way of playing however differs a lot. Norwich’s way is more about ball possession and Paderborn tries with high pressure to get the ball and score quick goals. In terms of individual quality the Premier League is a little bit higher but the tactical game is more developed here in the Bundesliga.”
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