An interview with a Premier League footballer does not usually take place at the National Portrait Gallery but that is where Sebastian Prodl chooses to meet.

Once inside there is a chance encounter with Sir Elton John, or at least a portrait of the former Watford owner and honorary life-president called: “Elton John (‘On the throne’)” by Suzi Malin. Even so Prodl’s eye is drawn to another painting close by, a self-portrait by David Hockney. “I always like the story behind a picture,” the Watford defender explains.

It is one of the reasons his favourite artist is even more contemporary. “I was inspired by Banksy. I like his profile, not that he’s hiding, but that no-one knows who he is. He has become a little bit commercial but I like the way he deals with problems in society. There are very strong messages. I have tried to buy one of his pieces but I didn’t have the balls to do it! It’s expensive, maybe £200,000.”

Art and visiting galleries is part of the Prodl plan that he and his wife adopted when they moved to London in 2015. “We want to adapt,” he says. “Meaning learning the language as well as possible, maybe becoming a native one day. It’s part of the respect to the people where we live and get our money. What we said was – ‘London’s a big city, there’s a lot of noise, a lot of traffic, a lot going on. Which places do you go to get some peace?’ In London it’s a park or a gallery. And I go to a lot of galleries.

“I started with the Tate Modern. I had bought some art already and bought some more. I wouldn’t say I know art but I am interested. Maybe I like five per cent of what I see but I like to find out more. I also like photographs – I have some stuff of Muhammad Ali. I’ve got original pictures, portraits, signed as well by him and he inspired me as he was mentally-strong, confident but not arrogant.”

Prodl says he doesn't have artistic ability but loves visiting galleries credit: John Nguyen

Does he paint? “I don’t have any artistic ability,” Prodl says, laughing. “My family does but not in art – more in design, in furniture and carpentry. My granddad (Josef Prodl) started a company (making high-end kitchens) in which my family is involved. I’m interested in furniture. I like architecture. I nearly became an interior designer or carpenter and would have done if I had not become a footballer.”

Prodl took the London Underground to this interview. “A lot of people think London is too busy, too stressful but I get a lot of power out of London. I really like the anonymity,” he says having moved to the city when he joined Watford on a free transfer from Werder Bremen.

“The mentality in Germany is different,” the Austrian international explains. “In Austria it’s like if you do something then 80 per cent is enough. You stop. In Germany they always go to the limit. It doesn’t matter if you are winning 2-0 or 3-0 you give 100 per cent and when your job is done you finish.

Prodl became Watford’s first signing after they were promoted credit: John Nguyen

“That inspired me and helped me get better performances and also helped my personality to grow. Besides football I want to be a person with values and that is why I decided to stay loyal, stay for seven years in Germany. But I always planned to become a Premier League player. In my career there were three steps I wanted to reach in football: living abroad, living in a big cosmopolitan city and maybe, one day, living next to the sea.”

Next to the sea? “I just like the sea,” Prodl says. “I grew up in the mountains in Austria but I just have this fascination. The sea calms me down, somehow. It doesn’t matter where – Spain, Italy, South Africa, Australia. I would consider anywhere. It just gives me, not inner peace, but when I think of the sea I relax. If I am struggling I remind myself of when I was on holiday, lying on the beach, watching the waves. I can’t really explain it but it’s something inside me that I want to live close to the sea one day.”

Prodl became Watford’s first signing after they were promoted. “I had better offers financially, in the Premier League as well (Leicester City wanted him), but my gut said it was the right choice,” he explains. “They (Watford) have a plan. They know what they want. Part of that plan is to change players, change manager but they stick to their plan and I like that consistency – not consistency in terms of manager but in their clear identity. This is what attracted me. Another big thing was that they had been promoted and I could be part of something new, something exciting. I could help build an established Premier League team.

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“So I made a check-list – pros and cons. It’s something I do all the time and it has worked out. I like being here and I like being part of that big circus of the Premier League because it’s entertaining, it’s challenging, it’s competing every day and I’m pretty proud to be part of that business.”

How does it compare to Germany? “England is intense. The Premier League can be poor quality but it’s entertainment,” Prodl says. “The Germans have that plan: you get the ball as a central defender you pass to the right-back. If you don’t have that option you try the other side. If you can’t do that, you go back. So you are going to be patient, patient, patient. England is built on speed. Once you play the ball into the midfield you try and create a chance or get a cross in. In Germany I ran more as a central defender because I had more time on the ball, more possession. Here you run less but quicker; high-intensity sprinting because it’s back and forth.

“The first three or four games in England I didn’t feel like a footballer. I felt like a boxer, somehow. The challenges are harder; the referees give more advantage. I had the impression that for the first 15 minutes the referee was not allowed to whistle to get the flow into the game. But I like it. It suits me. It suits my style. I’m tall, I’m strong and I like challenges. Even though I am turning 31 in the summer I still feel I’m at the peak of my performance level.”

Sebastian Prodl says the Premier League 'can be poor quality but it’s entertainment' credit: Getty Images

Watford are 11th, eight points clear of relegation but not quite safe. The recent drubbing at Liverpool served as a reminder that they cannot coast to the finish line this season, although a win against Bournemouth on Saturday should finally banish any fears of demotion.

“We all are aware that we might face a fight against relegation at the beginning of every season,” Prodl explains. “Every season we have started so far the predictions have been that Watford is one of the teams going down, for sure. We have proved a lot of people wrong."

The 6ft 4in centre-half is Watford’s player of the season and signed a new four-year contract last September. “Once I became professional I pictured myself as playing in the Premier League,” Prodl says. “It was always a dream I had because it fascinated me. When I was young I watched with my dad and brother. At Christmas the only league that was on was in England and my mum was a little bit annoyed! I always watched the Premier League and dreamt about coming here. Now I am here I don’t want that dream to stop.”