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Netherlands strength and conditioning coach Rene Wormhoudt assesses pro players’ Instagram photos
1 Gareth Bale @garethbale11 “Clubs need players back as soon as possible – anti-gravity treadmills will let them run while injured, without using their full bodyweight,” says Wormhoudt. 2 Thiago Alcantara @fcbayern “Cycling is a good way to get blood flowing to the leg muscles before training and could help to avoid injury.” 3 Leonardo Bonucci @bonuccileo19 “Wall sits are great for strengthening your thigh muscles. Start by trying to hold them for 20-30 seconds and slowly increase the duration in each session.” 4 Gary Cahill @garyjcahill “Bicep strength isn’t vital. But if you want bulging arms, then three sets of 10-12 repetitions of resistance band curls are a pretty good place to start.” 5 Ivan Perisic @inter “Most football actions – passing, shooting – are performed with the dominant leg. A Bosu Ball exercise will boost balance and single-leg strength.” 6 Jese Rodriguez @jeserodriguez10 “Hanging leg raises are a great core exercise. Why not make it a bit more difficult by lifting one leg up at a time?” 7 Luis Suarez @fcbarcelona “TRX cables are such a versatile piece of gear. This exercise is the TRX pike, which targets core muscles and requires upper-body strength to hold the position.” 8 Theo Walcott @theowalcott “Medicine ball planks are an upgrade on a regular plank. Get a team-mate to rock the ball slightly while you hold.”