Aleksandar Pavlovic has credited Vincent Kompany for bringing his performances to another level at Bayern Munich.
Pavlovic made his senior debut for Bayern in October 2023 after coming through the academy, but has emerged as a key figure for the team since Kompany joined ahead of the 2024-25 season.
He has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season, since the end of the Club World Cup, netting three goals and registering one assist so far.
Pavlovic has played the second-most successful passes (2,201/2,328) and has had the fourth-most touches for Bayern (2,598), helping them to an 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
But Pavlovic highlighted Kompany's influence as the key to the improvement of his all-around game this term.
"Vincent Kompany has a very big influence," Pavlovic told Sky Sport.
"He simply knows how I play football, how I tick and has also brought me to another level defensively.
"That's why he is very important, and it's a lot of fun to play under him."
While leading the charge in the Bundesliga, Bayern are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League with a tie against Atalanta to come.
They are also through to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals. Kompany's team will face Bayer Leverkusen next month.
"[Being a winner] has always been my motto, even when I was little. That I always want to win, always want to achieve everything," Pavlovic added of his aspirations.
"I also got that from my upbringing from my parents. That's why there is always one motto for me: be a winner, not a loser."
Bayern have the chance to open up their gap at the top of the German top-flight to 14 points on Friday when they host Borussia Monchengladbach.