FCBARCELONA.CAT

27.03.2007 11:45

Waiting for the internationals

Frank Rijkaard has continued to work with the 11 first-team players that he has available as the wait continues for the rest of the squad to begin returning form international duty.

It will not be until later in the week that the FC Barcelona coach will be able to welcome back all his players and, therefore, he has been forced to continue preparations for the Depor game with the same skeleton staff that he has had for the past few days. The latest training session again focussed on physical work and after the usual warm-ups, ball games and stretches, the players have been put through circuit training to build both their strength and power.

Ball games

Even though the physical side was the main feature, the exercises have always been carried out with a ball. The circuit consisted of a set of obstacles, such as cones, poles and jumping fences, as the players ran from one corner of the pitch to the other while playing balls around to the coaches, Johan Neeskens and Eusebio, who were located around the course. At the end of the run, the players had to shoot at goal.

Throughout all this Víctor Valdés and Albert Jorquera took turns to prevent their team-mates from scoring at the finale of the course and the duo were in fine form as the saved the majority of efforts.

Positioning and possession

The session closed with a game that focussed on positioning and possession and was notable for the intensity of all the players. The teams were made up for three players each, with Thiago Motta, Juliano Belletti and Javier Saviola on one side in blue and Santiago Ezquerro, Edmílson and Oleguer on the other in yellow. Ludovic Giuly, Leo Messi and Sylvinho were spare players that could play for the team was in possession.

Rijkaard watched the mini-games intently and was impressed before calling an end to morning's work and allowing the players' to warm down and then return to the dressing rooms. While this was going on Valdés and Jorquera continued their specialised work with goalkeeping coach, Juan Carlos Unzué.