Intro
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed he gained too much weight over the summer was the reason for his poor form on goal.
The Belgium international was forced to slim down in a bid to rediscover his form after failing to hit the back go the net in strings of matches.
It eventually paid off as the 25-year-old rediscovered his scoring form in two straight matches against Southampton and Fulham.
Romelu Lukaku hampered by World Cup muscle https://t.co/fXvev7hXpr pic.twitter.com/jGtcZbV85Q
— Goal Nigeria (@GoalcomNigeria) December 10, 2018
His strike against the Cottagers over the weekend at old Trafford makes it his first home league goal since March.
Lukaku also added he had carried too much muscle after the World Cup and had to stay out of the gym to tone down to get back into shape.
“I had to lose muscle, basically,” said Lukaku. “So you just stay out of the gym, drink a lot of water, eat a lot of veg and fish. And it helps. Just training differently — more prevention in the gym and try to be more speed bursts in training and that’s, for me, the most essential.
“It was at the World Cup. I just felt great and I think I played great over there, and then when I came back, it’s a different type of style. When you’re in the Premier League, you cannot play with the same amount of muscle as in international football.
“That was something that when I came back I knew straight away: ‘Nah, nah. I cannot play in this style like this.’
“Also I had an hamstring injury, which is something that never happens to me.
“After the World Cup, I think I really was a bit tired. You know, I had the same thing in 2014 — when I came back to Everton I was really in a slump after the World Cup.
“So, now I think I’m at a decent level again and ready to go.”
Romelu Lukaku: bulking up for World Cup has hampered my club form | By @JamieJackson___ https://t.co/HZW4JiuGJq
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) December 9, 2018
