REAL MADRID | INTERVIEW BOJAN CUSTIC
"Jovic has told me he only wants to triumph at Real Madrid"
Bojan Custic, Luka Jovic's personal trainer, discusses the players' daily routine under quarantine with AS: "He's fine, he just needs to be patient".
Bojan Custic has formed part of Luka Jovic's personal training team since the start of the year. His job of complementing the daily training regime Jovic performs at Real Madrid is even more important now the player is in self-isolation in Serbia. Through videochat and audiovisual material, Custic and Jovic are able to work from distance - even the player's diet is controlled - as he explained in an interview with Diario AS.
When did you start working with Luka Jovic?
Two months ago.
What was his training routine like back then?
We focused mainly on strength-building exercises, stretching, agility to speed up recovery time after long spells of physical exertion.
And what about now, under quarantine?
Luka trains at home for three hours every day. Every morning we have a one-hour session and in the afternoon, two hours of high-intensity training, a physically more demanding workout.
Do you give him a day off to rest?
He doesn't have any time off because every day there are recovery sessions so he is never really completely free of work.
Was he prepared for what has happened with the lockdown?
He has a treadmill at home, an exercise bike as well as other training equipment so we use all of that for our training sessions. We have been doing workouts that are specifically designed for footballers - thinking about the movements they make and what kind of exercise is required. Every 14 days we revise how his training sessions have gone and analyse his level of fitness.
How would you define Luka physically?
He is in top shape and he feels healthy and well in every sense.
Is it possible for a footballer to be in peak physical form in a situation like the one we are in?
It's possible for them to maintain their physical shape but they really miss the group training sessions - training with the ball, being out on the pitch with their team mates… But it's possible.
How difficult is it to motivate a player when they don't even know when competition will restart?
When you are working with a professional footballer, there is no problem. Luka is completely focused on our training programme - independently of his desire to get back working with his team mates.
Do you also control what he eats?
Yes. We have drawn up a plan of the kind of food which he is able to eat and what he shouldn't be eating but that's nothing new for him.
What does his diet consist of?
He has three main meals per day plus two light snack of fruit in between. In general, his diet consists of a lot of fruit an vegetables.
Does he get weighed every day, like in Valdebebas?
Yes, every morning his weight is checked, his legs are measured - hips, chest, arms…
Has he lost weight? gained weight or is he the same weight as before…?
He looks really well. I would say he probably weighs a little less than before the coronavirus crisis.
Are you in contact with Real Madrid's specialists?
Not at the moment, no.
Luka hasn't had an easy adaptation to Spanish football. Does your work include looking at the psychological side of training?
A lot of his team mates are talking with him and trying to help him and he is absolutely fine. He is going to demonstrate his true potential, he just needs to be patient.
What has he told you about his future?
He has told me that he only wants to triumph at Real Madrid, have a great career and for the Bernabéu to chant his name. And he is sure that he is going to achieve all of that.