Jerome Boateng has lashed out at the state of the English Premier League.

The Bayern Munich defender spent a season with Manchester City about five years ago but according to his recent comments, the English top flight did not make too much of a positive impression on him.

"In England, you have to operate immediately," Boateng told Sport Bild magazine.

"You actually need a period of settling in, because on the island, different football is played.

"But the English press does not give you any time for it, immediately raising it. This is not easy for a player.

"Some can handle criticism a bit better, but others say: 'What am I doing here?' Everything is terrible, even the weather."

Since leaving the Etihad Stadium in 2011, 28-year-old Boateng has won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, four Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, the Champions League and a number of other pieces of silverware with Bayern.