25.07.2010 09:44

Tough first week

Núria Barnils

It’s been an intense and hot start to pre-season training at Can Barça, with the squad putting in a hard week’s work, staring on Tuesday, and enjoying a deserved day off today, Sunday.

The first week of training has been focussed primarily on physical work outs, as the players begin to get back to full fitness, though there has also been time for skills work and tactics, which assistant manager Tito Vilanova insists: “it’s good to work on and remember, During the season there is so little time for that”.

Avoid the heat

The 10 first team players and 19 from Barça B have put in 8 sessions this week, working through the morning, after starting at 09.00 and also in the evening, with starts at 19.00 as the technical staff scheduled sessions to avoid the intense midday heat.

New faces

For the new members of the squad and the technical staff, this has been an important week to settle in at their new home. Brazilian Adriano Correia has impressed Vilanova, who commented: “he knows the language, the country and our League. He can shoot with both feet and has qualities that will allow him to easily adapt to our style of play”. Carles Busquets has also begun a new stage at the club as goalkeeping coach and according to Pinto; “you can really tell that he has a lot of experience and is very skilful”.

Evening meal

In order to round off the day and prepare for the next day’s training, the players have been enjoying an evening meal together at the Ciutat Esportiva everyday, which has helped ensure a correct diet and the creation of a positive group dynamic.

Fontàs and Vázquez in the gym

Although he trained with the rest of the group on Monday, Víctor Vázquez has spent the rest of the week in the gym, working on his muscle tone, whilst Andreu Fontàs has also worked apart from the rest of the squad, as he recovers from the broken metatarsal he suffered at the end of last season. In addition, Isaac Cuevas joined the squad on Thursday.