Zaza slowly adapting to life at West Ham

West Ham new-boy Simone Zaza admits he didn’t expect the Premier League to be this different to Serie A but is slowly adapting to life in England.

Having previously played for the likes of Atalanta, Viareggio and Sassuolo, Zaza joined the Hammers from Juventus over the summer – initially on loan for a €5m fee, with a permanent fee of €20m automatically triggered after a certain number of Premier League appearances.

The striker has already played six times in England’s top flight so far, his latest game coming against Sunderland last Saturday, but is still searching for his first goal.

Photo credit: Getty Images

And the striker has outlined exactly what makes the transition to the Premier League so tough.

“The game is much more physical here [than in Serie A] and there is less emphasis on tactics,” explained Zaza.

“The game is non-stop for the whole 90 minutes and the other aspect that shouldn’t be understated is the fact that West Ham have got many new players this season.

“It’s not easy for so many players to settle in and get to know each other in such a short space of time.

“I knew that when I arrived it would be hard, because it’s a completely different league, but I didn’t think it would be this different.

“I’m gradually getting used to it, feeling more confident and I’m very positive at the moment.”