FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.03.2007 16:48

Thursday training

Thursday’s training session for the twelve players not called away on international duty (plus Eidur Gudjohnsen who will join up with his Iceland collegues later) was held in the Miniestadi next to the Nou Camp.

The Barcelona weather was kinder to the players on Thursday and, after several days of freezing winds, the sun made a welcome reappearance.

Frank Rijkaard is now preparing for the next league encounter against Deportivo de la Corunya. The usual warm-up was followed by keep-ball exercises with the players brought together in a single group. The manager watched while the session was directed by the fitness coaches.

Circuit training

As always, the ball was present in all the exercises carried out by the players. After the initial warm-up and keep-ball exercises, the players divided up into two groups of six for an exercise using the entire length of the pitch. It consisted of breaking out from defensive positions and building up an attacking move using both long and short passes – thereby practising passing, stamina, accuracy and positioning.

The session was rounded off with a practice match. Wearing the yellow shirts were goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, plus Belletti, Sylvinho, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen and Giuly; and in the blue shirts were Albert Jorquera, Oleguer, Motta, Ezquerro, Messi and Javier Saviola. The match ended 9-8 in favour of the blue shirts.