Now in his second season as a Manchester City player, African superstar Riyad Mahrez has opened up on his early struggles under manager Pep Guardiola.
Despite his brilliance at Leicester City between 2014 and 2018, the 29-year-old has needed time to settle in at the Premier League champions.
Last season, Mahrez spent large portions of the campaign on the sidelines, but things have been different for the Algerian attacker this time out.
"Last year, when I arrived, the manager trusted me and believed in me, but I didn't make the difference as quick as they thought I would. At a club like City, they don't have time to wait.
"There are 20 top players, so I was on the bench when others were performing so it was a bit difficult for me to come back. But I played well towards the end of the season, and I started this season differently.
"When I've played, I've been performing so the confidence is here."
Mahrez has played 37 times across all competitions for City so far this season, scoring nine goals and assisting a further 14 strikes.
