Former Brentford midfielder Alan McCormack has revealed how working with Paulo Di Canio during his time at Swindon Town helped him become more versatile - something which was vital during the Bees' promotion season.
Di Canio, who played 141 times for West Ham United and had stints at Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, was McCormack's manager at Swindon when the Robins won promotion from League Two in 2011/12.
And McCormack explained how his experience playing across the backline under the legendary forward saw him thrive under Uwe Rösler in west London.
"Paulo Di Canio had converted me to a right-back in the first year at Swindon," McCormack recalled.
"Height was always going to be a challenge, but I felt I was really suited to it and I learned so much about the tactical side of the game from him.
"Being able to see and control the midfielders in front of me helped my development in that area.
“Uwe kept me there and I loved it. I could run, I could get up and down, I liked a tackle and I was a decent passer of the ball. Technically, I was fine, and I wasn’t a bad defender in one-v-ones.
"Playing in a possession-based team, where we dominated a lot of the time, made it a lot easier to fit in. I’m sure it would have been different if I was getting run at every weekend, though!”.
On Rösler, he added: “Uwe was very demanding. He didn’t like players dropping below the standards and he was vocal about that every day in training, that sunk into a lot of players.
"A lot of them were driven by Uwe’s style of coaching and his demanding presence around the place to push themselves for any manager they played for after that.
“Sometimes you just wanted a minute to yourself, but he was on you - and rightly so. To compete at any level, you have to be on it every day. He wanted men who were willing to have a tear up.
“It’s a big thing nowadays for managers to have trust in players and he did. You knew that, if you weren’t at your best, technically or tactically, you could certainly physically go at people and win a game just being a physical presence running, winning your 50/50s, your duels and all those little things.
"When you have a dressing room like that, you set your own standards and don’t let them drop.”
On the Rise with Alan McCormack can be read in Saturday's match programme; available online and around Gtech Community Stadium for £3.
Also inside your Brentford v Luton programme
"Luton are powerful and well-structured side; they build attacks quickly and with quality. We must top perform" - head coach Thomas Frank shares his thoughts before the Hatters' visit to TW8
Big Ben Burgess’ Big Match Preview
Mike Simmonds, Luton correspondent for Luton Today, takes us inside the club's camp in Hot off the Press
The Nathan Caton Column
Growing up, Keane Lewis-Potter was just like any other young child - he had a borderline unhealthy obsession with football. But, unlike millions of those kids who could only dream of playing in the Premier League, Keane’s living it. In the latest edition of the Long Read, the Brentford forward, alongside his former school teacher and ex-Hull City coach Tony Pennock, reveals the secrets behind his rise to the top flight
After arriving at Brentford B from Ireland as a nervous, young defender - despite making his debut for former club Bray Wanderers as a 17-year-old - Conor McManus discusses how he is now beginning to settle in west London, both on and off the pitch
Sales locations
Bees Superstore and Bees Merchandise kiosk (Lionel Road South)
Lionel Road South
Bridge (Bees Superstore end)
Outside Bees Superstore
Outside the box office (entrance B)
End of Lionel Road (Kew Bridge, stadium end)
Away end entrance (outside entrance G)
Stadium (as well as in the Dugout)
Merchandise kiosks (north, east and west stands and family section)
Programmes are available after the game from the Bees Merchandise Kiosk and the Bees Superstore (Lionel Road South)