One Derby County signing has revealed the part of the game he had to adapt to since arriving in England.
The Rams have got off to a solid start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, which has seen Paul Warne’s side rise to a respectable 12th place in the league table.
Derby County’s season has been dictated by the brilliant showing in the centre-of-the-park, which has seen new signings Kenzo Goudmijn, David Ozoh, Ben Osborn and Ebou Adams particularly show quality in the midfield.
Several of Derby County’s signings this summer have in fact managed to stamp their authority on the team, as has Rams shot-stopper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, who arrived from Swedish outfit Djurgardens.
Zetterstrom came in for Josh Vickers in-between the sticks, and despite having to adapt to football in a region he was yet to play, he has been an incredible coup for Warne and Derby County.
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom reveals what he had to adapt to since joining Derby County
After arriving from Djurgardens, the signing of Zetterstrom has been crucial, and the shot-stopper has been ranked as one of the highest performers for Derby County so far.
The Rams goalkeeper plays like he has been in England for the best part of a decade, however he has revealed that there were ‘new tasks’ he was faced with that he had to overcome.
Per DN, Zetterstrom said: “It is clear that I have been faced with new tasks.
“Things move faster and balls are fed in from all possible angles. It is important to deal with it.
“No, I wouldn’t say that [when asked if English football had surprised him]. The image you have of it being is fast and tough – that’s right. I enjoy every second.”
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Derby County and Paul Warne have done brilliantly to help foreign players settle
Zetterstrom and Goudmijn have arguably been Warne’s most impressive signings this summer, and it is an incredible fate considering neither had applied their trade in England up until the 2024/25 campaign.
It is clear that Warne has taken extra consideration to ensure that the pair, who are from Sweden and Netherlands respectively, have been able to gel into the side and also feel confident and comfortable at playing the English game, which has been described by Zetterstrom as ‘faster’, and the Derby County boss without a doubt deserves credit for it.
If either Zetterstrom or Goudmijn were not quite up to speed in comparison to the brilliant start they have had in reality, Derby County could have potentially have been in trouble, especially if the Swedish shot-stopper had not settled, and Warne as a result has done brilliantly to prioritise this when bringing in arrivals that at first looked to be quite a risk.