Thuram: "Bundesliga players more intense than in France"

Thuram joined Gladbach after playing a starring role for Guingamp in the 2018/19 Ligue 1 season in France, and with four goals and three assists in his first nine Bundesliga appearances, he has clearly taken that form with him across the border.

But the France U21 international has noticed a number of differences in the football played in the German top flight with its breakneck speed and unflinching pressure impressing the powerful 22-year-old.

"The first difference I think - and the difference that I like the most - is the stadium. The atmosphere is incredible every game. The stadium is always full of people. And more technically about the game, here the players seem crazy on the pitch. From the first minute to the 90th-minute, they run everywhere. Everywhere!" he told bundesliga.com.

"They don't stop running, pressing pressing pressing. In France, sometimes you have teams sizing each other up for the first 15, 20 minutes. Here, you go into the game, and from the first minute, you go."

That has also been the case for Thuram, whose contribution - along with that of strike partners Breel Embolo and Alassane Plea - has been crucial in Marco Rose's side making a flying start to the season.

Watch: Thuram scored twice from the bench in a derby win!

It is perhaps no surprise Thuram has settled so quickly into life at Borussia-Park given he felt comfortable as soon as he met Rose and sporting director Max Eberl.

"I spoke with Max and the coach and I directly felt the energy, you know that good energy. It's the first time you meet, but it's like you already know each other. So then I came here, and I spoke to my dad and my dad is a lot about liking the human being, the way you see people not only the club and the relationship you have. And the meeting I had with the coach and Max was very very good," said Thuram, whose belief in Rose's methods and philosophy played a fundamental role in his decision to make the move.

"I know what kind of coach he is. If he chose this club, I think that I could trust him to come with him and to see that this club is the right club for us. So here we are and he talks a lot to us. You know he likes a joke. But at the same time he's very strict on the pitch and there are some things he doesn't laugh about. But he's a very good person. So I like working with him."

As the son of France's all-time leading appearance maker, 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 winner Lilian, Thuram had a headstart in understanding the ins and outs of the game.

"We talk only about football. We judge games. We have very very rich conversations about football. There is only football so I think it's a good thing," said Thuram of his relationship with his famous dad, who has another up-and-coming footballer in the family in Marcus' younger brother, Nice midfielder Khephren.

"We're gonna walk on our own path. He's gonna work on his and I'm gonna work on mine. And I hope that we can go as far as possible."

Just a few months into a four-year deal, Thuram will not be going anywhere without a Gladbach shirt on for some time to come. He may be the focal point of all the plaudits right now, but the unassuming Italian-born forward insists all his efforts are in aide of the greater good.

"My personal goal is to be the best player possible to help the team. Do what the team needs me to do, and what me and my teammates need me to do, I think that's the most important thing," he explained. "I think that the team's goals have to come before your goals. If the team is going well, you'll be going well too."