Walter Mazzarri has discovered the Premier League's competitive nature means managing Watford is no different to taking charge of Napoli or Inter Milan.
The experienced 55-year-old took his first job in England this season and has led the Hornets to 11th place in the Premier League table ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland, where he will pit his wits against Black Cats boss David Moyes.
The two include illustrious clubs with Champions League pedigree on the respective CVs but meet in the north east with survival in England instead paramount for their current teams.
However, Mazzarri believes the fact this country's top flight is more open from top to bottom has ensured his time in Hertfordshire is not too dissimilar to his spells in Naples and Milan.