David Affengruber has established himself as a regular starter for Fulham following a successful transition to English football, sport.ORF.at reported.
The 25-year-old Austrian international defender secured his place in the starting lineup shortly after arriving in London, highlighted by a strong performance during his debut against Liverpool at Anfield. While the match ended in a 0-0 draw, the defender noted the near-miss of a victory.
“But that would have been too cliché,” Affengruber told sport.ORF.at regarding the scoreless draw against the Premier League side.
Securing a starting role so quickly after a transfer is uncommon for new arrivals in the English top flight, but Affengruber maintained that the opportunity was part of his initial objectives. “But the plan was already that it should work if I make a move,” he said.
Affengruber noted tactical and physical differences between his recent experiences in England and his previous time playing in Spain. He described the Premier League as a more demanding environment in terms of speed and physical contact.
“The Premier League is more physical and faster compared to Spain’s LaLiga,” Affengruber reported.
The transition also involved a shift in lifestyle and environment. The defender mentioned that while he was “spoiled” by the weather in Spain, he views the cultural changes as a positive aspect of his profession. “It’s the beautiful thing about our job, that we can live in many places and experience many cultures,” he said.
After a difficult start to the campaign that saw Fulham record two losses and two draws, the club has found more consistent form. The team has earned eight points from its last four matches, moving up to 15th place in the standings.
“We have performed well recently and are standing halfway decent now,” Affengruber said regarding the club’s recent results.
Despite his regular playing time in London, Affengruber’s immediate focus has shifted to the Austrian national team and their upcoming Nations League fixture against Ireland in Linz. The defender expressed confidence in the team’s ability to secure a win on home soil.
“We want to go to Linz on Saturday and win the game,” Affengruber said.
He said that playing at home provides an advantage, especially after Austria recovered from a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 in Ireland. “Now we have everything in our own hands,” he added.
Affengruber expects the team to approach the match with high intensity from the opening whistle. “Against Ireland, the Austrians want to start with great energy right from the beginning, to carry out our game plan, and then I am optimistic that we will pull this game to our side and get the three points,” he said.
While Affengruber brings Premier League experience to the national squad, he anticipates he may begin the match against Ireland on the bench due to intense competition for central defensive positions. He said that the depth in the Austrian defense is a positive sign for the national team’s future.
Everyone has the qualities to play; you have to earn it in training,” Affengruber said.
The Austrian national team’s next scheduled match is the Nations League fixture against Ireland in Linz on Saturday.
