FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.08.2007 12:03

Work goes on at the Mini

Míriam Nadal / Jordi Clos

Barça had a tough training session in the Miniestadi, watched by several fans, before they head off to Munich after lunch.

Frank Rijkaard had 24 players at his orders, included reserve players Jesús Olmo and Marc Crosas. Sylvinho and Belletti have both been given the medical all-clear to train, but Eidur Gudjohnsen was missing, having yet to recover from his troubled left knee.

Hard work

The usual warm ups were followed by the common practice of circuit training, first without and then with the ball. Rijkaard was so keen to get involved that some of the time it was as if he was just another member of the squad. Considering the side had already trained at dusk on Monday, it was a stirringly tough session, which ended with a series of short matches.

The players were divided into three teams. Two played each other while the third side did stretching exercises with the fitness staff. The sides were as follows:

Orange: Abidal, Crosas, Oleguer, Henry, Touré, Xavi and Eto'o.
Blue: Iniesta, Deco, Maxi, Messi, Márquez, Milito and Belletti.
Yellow: Zambrotta, Olmo, Sylvinho, Ezquerro, Motta, Giovani and Ronaldinho.
(Thuram did not play in the games)

Eto’o junior the star

The session ended with Samuel Eto’o kicking the ball about with his son. Shortly after, one of the nicest images of the day saw Thierry Henry joining them.