Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell admits he has struggled to adapt to life in Australia's A-League, calling the standard of football a "rude awakening".
During a 15-year career overseas, Kewell played for English clubs Leeds and Liverpool before ending up at Galatasaray in Turkey until he moved home earlier this year.
Having never played in Australia's top-flight domestic competition before, he said he was shocked at how good it was.
"It's been difficult. The league is not as easy as everyone made it out to be," he told reporters, having scored just one goal in his seven appearances so far this season for Melbourne Victory.
"It's a tough league. It's fast, it's furious, it's strong, it's quick, so it's for me to adapt to that. This has probably been a big learning curve for me, coming from Europe back home to play in the league.
"I've been hearing about (it) for the past six years that it's not like this or that. I've had a rude awakening," he added.
"It's completely the opposite. It's quick, it's strong, sometimes the passes are not as crisp as European passes but the thought is there."
Kewell was rested from Tuesday's exhibition match against David Beckham's LA Galaxy, but is expected to play against Adelaide on Saturday.
Source: AFP
