"JB: All those previous experiences helped me to grow as a player and prepared to come to the Premier League. At Udinese, for example, I had a brief stint playing under Fabio Cannavaro two seasons ago. That was probably the hardest season I've had as we were struggling throughout the year and I had my only big injury so I was out for a few months. I returned and Cannavaro came in to oversee a five-game unbeaten run at the end of the season we avoided relegation on the final day."
"He was obviously a great player a former Italy captain and amazing defender and we still speak now sometimes. He's now in charge of Uzbekistan and I wish him all the best for the World Cup this summer. Throughout all my experiences, I also developed as a person and I didn't take it for granted that everything was going to go smoothly straight away in England."
"Growing up, I loved watching Lionel Messi in that great Barcelona side but I always followed English football very closely and watched a lot of Premier League and Champions League games. It was a huge challenge coming here, and I had to be prepared for that and ready to take my chance when it came. You need these challenges in your life and your career in order to grow and get better and better."
Jaka Bijol has been a key figure in Leeds United’s rise, adapting to Premier League football after joining last summer. He has played alongside fellow centre-halves as Leeds shifted to a back three or back five, helping the team move away from relegation trouble. Bijol says earlier experiences prepared him for England, including a difficult season at Udinese where he suffered a major injury and later returned under Fabio Cannavaro. He notes that Cannavaro oversaw an unbeaten run that helped avoid relegation, and that Bijol still speaks with him. Bijol also emphasizes that challenges are necessary for growth and that he followed English football closely before arriving.
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