Declan Rice has attributed his exceptional performance this season to a rather unconventional pre-game meal: pancakes.
The 25-year-old divulged his pancake-powered secret in a recent interview, sparking curiosity and debate among athletes and fans alike.
Laughing, the England international reveals in an interview with Men's Health: “I have four pancakes before a game. Covered in syrup or honey. I swear to God, it’s the best thing – it has changed this season.”
The switch was driven by a recommendation from Arsenal's nutrionist, Rice explains. He adds: “He told me to trust him and to start eating pancakes.
"They’re just normal pancakes. When I joined the club, I could see the players eating them and thought to myself, 'What is going on here?' But honestly, it’s been a game changer.
“I don’t understand the science behind it, what’s in them or anything like that, but it gives me such a high energy boost.
"I think that’s why I’m able to rattle around the pitch so much… it’s actually getting out of hand. If we’re playing at 5.30pm, I’ll sometimes have eight pancakes in a day. I’ll have some at breakfast and I’ll have some more at 3.30pm before we play.”
