New Serie A champion Romelu Lukaku has said he ‘would die’ for Antonio Conte, while revealing some unusual training ground secrets that have improved his game.
Since arriving in Milan back in 2019, Lukaku has played some of the best football of his career under Conte. During his first season at Inter, he managed 34 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions and he has continued to make the net bulge this campaign as the Nerazzurri picked up their first Scudetto since 2010.
Buoyed by Lukaku’s fine form, Inter have led the way for much of the season and they were finally confirmed as Serie A champions on Sunday after Atalanta were held to a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo.
Speaking after the title was secured, the striker lavished praise on his manager in an interview with La Tribune (via FCInterNews).
“I would die for Conte,” Lukaku said. “I wasn’t able to join him at Chelsea (in 2017), but I’d always said I’d played for him as soon as I left Manchester United. Conte told me very directly: ‘If you don’t work in training you won’t play, it’s essential that you know how to play with your back to goal. It’s important to meet people who tell you the absolute truth to help you improve.”
As well as scoring at an incredible rate Lukaku has been providing more assists this season, setting his teammates up for nine goals so far.
He went on to explain how Conte’s training methods has helped to improve that part of his game, saying: “I’ve improved with my back to goal thanks to a machine we use in training which fires balls at me at 30-40km/h, I have to direct them towards my teammates.”
“Beforehand I was always a bit behind the defender marking me, now I’m two seconds ahead of them. It’ll never be my favourite kind of work but now I’m fulfilling a crucial role, a bit like Shaquille O’Neal in basketball.”