FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.05.2007 11:49

Barça preparing for Getafe

Jesús Carrillo/Aleix Santacana

After a day off, Frank Rijkaard’s squad got back to work on Wednesday. The injured Rafa Márquez was the only player to miss the session, while the surprise was Deco’s new image.

After injuring his right leg on Tuesday, the Mexican centre back will be out of action for two weeks, but it was work as usual for the other players at La Masia. Before the usual warm-up routines, Rijkaard spent several minutes speaking to the players.

Edmílson on his own

For the first half hour, the Brazilian worked in isolation, having taken a knock in the game at the Vicente Calderón on Sunday. However, it is nothing serious, and he should be fine by the weekend.

On and off the ball

It was a session that combined both skill and fitness work, first with and then without the ball. The central exercise was a fitness circuit in which the players combined a full-on workout with short periods of rest.

Games to end

Rijkaard then divided his players into three teams of six for a series of winner-stays-on matches. Wearing yellow were the defenders (Sylvinho, Oleguer, Zambrotta, Thuram, Belletti and Puyol), the midfielders were in blue (Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Gio, Motta and Deco) and the strikers donned green bibs (Eto’o, Ezquerro, Ronaldinho, Messi, Giuly and Saviola).