Cedric Itten admits he still has nightmares about the physicality of Scottish football and its defenders.
The big striker is now back in his native Switzerland with Young Boys after struggling at Rangers.
He's firing on all cylinders again with 14 goals and seven assists in 25 appearances this season - form that has left some wondering why things didn't work out in Scotland.
And Itten has revealed that the power and aggression of players in the league took him aback.
He recalled: "From a sporting point of view, looking back, the defenders in Scotland were the biggest change for me.
"In Scotland, the trash talk is extreme.
"I was really shocked because of the words that were used. But my teammates just laughed about it and said 'that wasn't even a bad insult...the real insults are still to come!'
"The defenders there might not be technically gifted, they are just big and wide.
"A duel between players in Scotland cannot be compared to Germany or Switzerland. I remember a situation where I dribbled past two opponents, but the third player knocked me off my feet. But instead of giving a penalty, the referee allowed play to continue.”
And Itten admitted he knew he had to leave Rangers because Alfredo Morelos remained at Ibrox.
In an interview in Switzerland, Itten explained: "Contrary to expectations, Alfredo Morelos did not move clubs, so I knew I had to do something.
"I had to play, otherwise I would jeopardise my place in the national team, so I decided to switch to the Bundesliga on loan at short notice.
"The mood was not great at Greuther Furth because we lost every week. Then when I returned to Rangers, I suffered from a mysterious infection. The doctors initially found no explanation and suspected that it was the aftermath of Covid.
"I felt weak and tired for weeks. I lost over ten pounds because I could only eat soup and had no appetite. You have a lot of thoughts running through your head, but giving up was never an option.
"But I have certainly been reborn as a player at Young Boys."
