The Brazilian defender Viery chatted to us after the team's training session in England on Sunday afternoon.

What instructions has Fabio Grosso given you?

The coach wants us defenders to play tighter together so that we can cover for each other. I think we're all training well. Whoever plays should be happy.

“He wants me to be aggressive, be strong in the tackle and determined but sometimes he tells me not to rush into tackles – you don't always need to come out. The football is more tactical here than in Brazil. I'm learning a lot from the coach every day and I think I'm improving.

You joined two weeks ago. What are your first impressions of the city, the fans, your team-mates?

“There's a real mix of cultures, with players from different countries. It's been a great experience for me. I'm learning a lot form them: the way they speak, the way they adjust their intensity in training, they way everyone thinks differently but together we're able to make everything work. I'm trying to take a little bit from everyone and keep growing.”

How's it going with Radu Dragusin?

“It's going well. We're training well and we're enjoying ourselves. I think if we keep going like this, everything will come more naturally and our understanding will improve – not just with Dragusin but with the other centre- backs and all my team-mates.”

What worked and what didn't work in the friendly match against QPR?

“This is a preparation phase and we're working to improve. I think what the coach asked us to do worked. We probably need to improve our ball circulation a bit – move the ball a bit more quickly when we have it. That's something we need to work on a lot but it's working.”

What's it like as a center-back to be playing in front of a goalkeeper like David De Gea

“Yes, it makes me feel proud. Before I used to see him on FIFA on the PlayStation and now I'm training with him. I'm very proud of myself and what I've done to get here. Credit to him for the amazing job he does. He helps me a lot in training too and I'm grateful to him for that.”