OS: I’m very happy to be among the top three Serie A defenders according to Sofascore. There’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes, and I work every day to achieve these results. The numbers say a lot about my performances and also reflect the way I play.

OS: It’s definitely different. When I was in Salzburg, in Austria, I think I also had one of the top ratings according to Sofascore. In Italy, football is much more tactical, which is also good for me because it helps me improve both my defensive and attacking skills. We have to prepare a lot during training sessions.

OS: I would say that 1v1 defending is one of my strongest qualities. A top defender definitely needs to have this ability. I already had it before, but playing here in Italy and in Serie A has helped me improve even more.

OS: Every striker is different. I’m a tall guy, so maybe shorter and quicker players can make things a bit more difficult for me. At the same time, I always try to make things difficult for them as well. Maybe players like Isaksen, Conceição and Yildiz are the most dangerous for my style of play, but I think I can handle every situation.

OS: It could be. I grew up playing as a midfielder, and I think every footballer has to be ready to play in different positions. I feel comfortable in both roles. My stats in touches and dribbles reflect that, but I always try to dribble with purpose. Passing is also very important, especially finding teammates between the lines. The offensive side of the game matters a lot too, so it’s nice to achieve these kinds of numbers.

OS: When I was at Salzburg, it was a different league and a different environment because we were always at the top of the table. I always try to adapt to the team and the league I play in. For example, when you play in a back four, it’s harder to push forward because there’s only one defender left covering in the middle. At Udinese it’s different, because a lot of our actions start from my position. You have to bring something to the team: be brave, drive forward, find spaces and create solutions. It all depends on the system of the team.

OS: As a defender, I’ve always loved watching players like Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva and Virgil van Dijk. These are the kind of players you should look up to if you really want to improve. Taking a little bit from each of them would be great for me.

OS: Ahah, yes! I could even have zero yellow cards. I always try to help the team, especially when we’re winning and need to avoid conceding goals. I try to be as clinical as possible when winning the ball back from an opponent. I’m not scared — I always look to go 1v1 and win the duel.