Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers was immediately made aware of the pressure cooker environment he'd walked into on arrival at Parkhead.
And he insists nothing in his career compares to the razor-thin margins playing for the current Premiership table toppers.
As Ange Postecoglou's final deadline day signing on loan from Tottenham Carter-Vickers was thrust into the action and made an immediate impact with a deflected debut goal against Ross County.
Six months later it has been a wild ride with the club overhauling a gap of six points to top the league although Thursday night's Europa Conference League defeat to Bodo/Glimt has offered something of a reality check.
Fans are clamouring for him to stay for good but it all began with some pointed pearls of wisdom from two men who have seen and done it all in green and white, Callum McGregor and Nir Bitton.
Speaking to the club's matchday programme for this weekend's visit of Dundee, he said: "Coming to Celtic, the biggest thing I’ve found is that every game is a must-win.
"If we want to achieve what we want, we more or less have to win every game and the pressure is there.'
"If I compare it to the Championship where I’ve spent most of my time, you have to be consistent to achieve things but nowhere near as consistent as you do up here. The margin for error is very low and that’s something I’ve had to adjust to and realise.
"Now I’ve been here for a while, you get used to that and what’s good is that we have players in the team that have been here for a long time.
"Guys like Callum McGregor and Nir Bitton communicate that pressure to you when you come in, but it’s another thing to realise it and come under that pressure.
"This squad is so close, from the players to the staff, which helps relive that because you share the weight of the pressure together and it helps us in our goals."
Celtic's position has been build on solid foundations as they remain the side with the fewest goals conceded in the top flight.
And that's largely down to Carter-Vickers developing an understanding with Swedish sidekick Carl Starfelt.
He added: "The big thing when you move club is that it takes time to understand your partner at the back.
"But myself and Carl Starfelt, alongside the full-backs, know each other’s game so much better now.
"As the games go by we get used to it more and get better at working under the manager’s system."
Carter-Vickers was overlooked for the recent US national team squad and despite his stellar season hasn't featured for his country since 2019 - though that was good news to Celtic fans worried they'd lose a key player for the derby against Rangers at the beginning of this month.
Coach Gregg Berhalter has shown a clear preference towards MLS players in his squads but Carter-Vickers won't give up.
He added: "My dad is from the States and growing up I would go and visit regularly, so I have a real connection with the country.
"I would love to be back in the national team but all I can do is focus on playing here and hopefully that will come.
"It’s a cliché, but I only look game-to-game. I would be lying if I said the end goal is not at the back of your mind, but I just need to focus every day."
