Matthias Blankenburg expects David Alaba to start his adventure at Real Madrid on Monday in top condition. The specialist in physical preparation has worked closely with the versatile defender and is therefore very impressed with the stamina of the Austrian. Blankenburg also thinks that Alaba is mentally ready for his employment at Real.
“He is a wiry and mentally extremely strong boy,” Blankenburg said in an interview with BILD the praises of Alaba. “Everything is right with David, he has the perfect physical constitution. He is at a higher level compared to other top players. He has extremely good muscles, but that does not lose his liveliness and speed.” The German specialist, who also works with top athletes, does not want to exaggerate the increase in muscle mass.
“Players with mountains of muscle are overly busy,” says Blankenburg. “Why is that? That question is quickly asked. Football is a sport in which certain skills and abilities have priority. Too many muscles literally get in the way. There are certain skills and qualities that a football player must possess. In addition to the high technical level are the components speed, agility and ability to jump. If you have a certain muscle mass you can no longer meet these parameters. More strength does not automatically mean that you are faster or better. At some point it becomes counterproductive Blankenburg warns.
The expert from Germany knows that many players work intensively on their muscle mass because of their image as a football player. “The players are competing with each other in that area. Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly one of the initiators of this, he has really brought this way of working on your body to life among professional football players. A healthy and good appearance, which is attractive and sexy, that’s not the image of the typical footballer. The cult of the body has really come to the fore in recent years. The term ‘sex sells’ now applies to players too.”
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