FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.03.2007 14:31

Highly intensive training session

The FC Barcelona squad have completed training at the Masia pitch in a session notable for the intense rhythm of its exercises. Frank Rijkaard had all his players available with the exception of Màrquez, Motta and Ronaldinho.

The session began with a discussion between Frank Rikjaard and his players in the centre of the pitch, with the focus on the all important upcoming league match against Real Madrid. After listening to instructions from the coach, the players began running and physical exercises to warm up before the usual circuits. The session continued with an exercise in pairs where the players combined short passes and one-twos with long distance passing.

Ball control

The group was divided into two teams to carry out a ball-control exercise in tight spaces and without goalposts. During the 15-minute duration of the exercise Frank Rikjaard asked for intensity in defensive pressing, speedy passing and better usage of open spaces. After almost quarter of an hour, the players who started in the Champions League match against Liverpool left the session after some brief physical exercises.

The other half of the group, including the rest of the players who took part in Tuesdays match and those who did not, plus Samuel Eto’o, played a game on a reduced size pitch. The game continued with the same intensity as the rest of the session. The evenly balanced teams and the competitiveness of the players made for quite an interesting game. The blue team of Valdés, Gio, Ezquerro, Giuly, Belletti and Eto’o managed to get the better of the yellow team made up of Jorquera, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Zambrotta, Saviola and Gudjohnsen.

At the end of the training session, strikers Santi Ezquerro and Eidur Gudjhonsen stayed on the pitch with physical trainer Albert Roca. The two players did running and sprints to improve their physical condition.