FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.05.2007 12:08

First ‘family’ training session for Barça

Sandra Sarmiento/Aleix Santacana

The international exodus has left Frank Rijkaard with just eight first team players to work with. To make up the numbers, ten reserve team players were invited to participate in the Tuesday session.

The new faces at la Masia today were Olmo, Valiente, Crosas, Orlandi, Víctor Vázquez, Sastre, Thaer, Giovani, Calvo and Busquets, who got the chance to train alongside some of the FC Barcelona first team (Valdés, Jorquera, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Belletti, Motta, Giuly and Ezquerro). However, the still injured Rafa Márquez was absent as he continues his recovery programme.

A chance against Nàstic

The bulk of these players will be taking on Nàstic of Tarragona this Thursday in the semi finals of the Copa Catalunya, and that is another reason why Rijkaard preferred to get everybody together early.

The usual warm-up drills involved splitting the players into two groups. One featured all the first teamers plus Marc Crosas, while the other reserves formed a second group.

Fitness drills and a game

The lion’s share of the session involved practice of long balls and an obstacle-packed circuit that ended with shots on goals defended by keepers Valdés and Jorquera.

And it all ended with a short 9 against 9 practice match. Playing in blue we had Jorquera, Sylvinho, Belletti, Valiente, Víctor Vázquez, Crosas, Giovani, Giuly and Ezquerro, and playing in yellow were Valdés, Oleguer, Olmo, Motta, Sastre, Busquets, Orlandi, Thaer and Toni Calvo.

The next training session will be on Thursday morning at 10.30.