Fiorentina forward Gnonto says his time playing in England has improved his physical condition and helped him adapt to the demands of football in Italy.
Speaking to Fiorentina’s official channel, Gnonto said he was settling into his new surroundings and enjoying life with his team-mates after spending a prolonged period away from Italy.
“I miss Italy, the food and speaking Italian every day,” he said. “I’ve been away for a while now and I’m not used to being surrounded by Italians anymore. But everything is going very well right now.
“I’m happy, my team-mates are easy to get along with and it’s a pleasure to be with them. Everything will only get better.”
Gnonto also credited manager Vanoli’s training programme with having a significant impact on his physical development. The forward said the sessions involved substantial running and had left him feeling stronger.
“I’m sure the area where I’ve improved the most is my physical condition,” Gnonto said. “We train very hard with a lot of running. Vanoli has us run quite a bit and I feel much stronger physically.
“I’m in a good phase right now. Going forward, I can continue to improve in all aspects and I work on that every day. I believe that with the help of the coach and my team-mates, I can achieve that.”
The Fiorentina player compared the intensity of Italian and English football, saying his experience in England had changed his understanding of training and physical preparation.
“Italian and English football differ significantly in intensity,” he said. “Training there is shorter, with less tactical content but higher intensity. After being there, I’ve improved a lot in that regard.
“I think it’s important to find a balance between the two. Because I’ve played for the national team, I have a bit of an Italian mindset when it comes to diet and work ethic.”
Gnonto added that life away from football felt less intense in England, where he believed people generally adopted a more relaxed approach.
“Things are more relaxed in England,” he said. “People are more laid-back, football isn’t everything in life, which is perhaps better for your personal life.”