21 January 2023 , 11:52
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Wout Weghorst wants to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and become a ‘mega-professional.’
Manchester United ’s new loanee has assembled his own personal backroom team to reach his goal - claiming he is in the best form of his career. Weghorst arrived at Old Trafford from Turkey earlier this month on the back of a solid show at the World Cup where he was described as ‘a fool’ by Lionel Messi when the Dutch were defeated on penalties by eventual winners Argentina in the quarter-finals.
But the 30-year-old is clearly nobody’s fool after raising his game with the help of a mini-army of fellow professionals behind him. And the good news is that Weghorst believes he is hitting his peak.
He said: “You can see from my stats that I’m in the best period of my career so far - I see this as just the start. I’m convinced that everything you put into your career comes back to you. By working hard with good people around you.
“Look at Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic : they are absolute mega-professionals. They were active at the very highest level until an advanced age. The outside world does not see how hard they work to keep it up.
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“They are living examples of getting out what you put in. In the end, you have to do it on the pitch. There’s only one person ultimately responsible for that - and that’s me.
“But I keep looking at things that can support me. I’ve had Joost Leenders working as my mental coach for a number of years. Three years ago, I added two people to my coaching team: a physical trainer and new mental coach.
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Wout Weghorst is surrounding himself with extra coaches to make sure Man Utd get the best out of him (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)“I also have my own physiotherapist, a nutritionist and I’m still coached by former player, Simon Cziommer. I also use a volleyball coach to help me with my headers.
“On my days off, I’m training hard. I don’t always feel like it, but I want to keep developing. In the end, there is only one person responsible - and that’s me - but I keep looking at things that can support me in that.
“The more you work on points of improvement, the fewer remain. You edge closer to becoming the complete striker. I will definitely keep working - but I’m noticing that I’m getting closer and closer to being the ultimate version of myself as a striker.”
Weghorst is well known in Holland for his commitment to self-improvement. Indeed, his extreme running - he wants to lead from the front in any session - will be music to the ears of United’s Dutch chief Erik ten Hag.
But his fellow professionals back in Holland initially referred to him as ‘a maniac’ for the way he goes about his business. But Weghorst isn’t about to apologise to anyone for his approach.
He added: “Look, now that I am a father of two girls, I have also developed on a personal level. Parenthood teaches you what the really essential things in life are.
“I can score goals all I want, but it’s all about giving those two little ones a hug after I get home. I can’t return grumpy anymore because I’m disappointed with a result.
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“These days, I get rid of that on the car ride home. Then it's done. Before, I could walk around feeling awful for days after a defeat. Now, things are more balanced. Before, I could never once be satisfied with any performance. Really, never.
Erik ten Hag will enjoy Wout Weghorst's obsession with extreme running (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)“That’s why I sometimes said that football is not only very beautiful, but also very tough. So, you shouldn’t be weighed down by disappointments for too long.
“However, my drive will never diminish - that’s the nature of the best. I’ve taken the pressure off myself. It bothered me when things didn’t go the way I wanted. It’s calm in my head now.
“I’m more relaxed, more self-aware. It’s a pleasant feeling and I take that onto the pitch. The self-confidence I’m feeling right now is something I’ve never experienced before. I just know I need very few chances to score. And that’s a wonderful place to be.”