Bundesliga
Serge Gnabry cooking up a vegan storm
Serge Gnabry has revealed that he has become vegan. The 23-year-old’s change of diet has coincided with his impressive form for Bayern Munich and Germany in 2018/19.
Gnabry scored his fifth international goal in six appearances for Germany on Sunday, in the 3-2 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Before the game, the former Arsenal forward spoke about his positive start to vegan life.
"At the moment I’m enjoying it, I’m feeling well as well," Gnabry told German publication BILD. "I had conversations with friends, watched documentaries. I just want to give it a try. I don’t know whether it’ll last forever. The chefs at the DFB and Bayern know."
Watch: Gnarby scored a brace against former club Bremen in December
It’s a change that many global sports stars have undertaken, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and NFL great Tom Brady all living a vegan lifestyle.
Bayern’s head chef, Alfons Schuhbeck, knows how difficult it can be for a top-level athlete to follow a vegan diet.
"Serge has been vegan for a few weeks now, “Schuhbeck told BILD. "We’re helping him along the way and make sure that he’s well fed. As a high-level athlete, he has to look at where he gets his power from. It’s important to eat protein-rich food. Lentils and peas are crucial."
The benefits of Gnabry’s change of diet are reflected in his performance levels this season, with only Robert Lewandowski (30) scoring more goals for Bayern in all competitions than the former Arsenal player (9).
And who knows? Gnabry going vegan could well make all the difference to a successful and unsuccessful Bundesliga title defence in his first campaign on the books of Germany's record champions.