FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.08.2007 16:39

Training in the rain

David Saura

Barça have trained for the first time in Hong Kong, watched by some 3,000 fans. Matters were not helped by the intense rain and humid conditions.

The Barça squad, training in the Hong Kong stadium, have experienced at first hand the effects of the Pabuk typhoon, which is getting nearer and nearer to the Asian city. The rain pelted down on the players in a session in which those that started against Yokohama ( 0-1 ) were given slightly less arduous duties to perform.

Humidity

As well as the rain, the usual humidity at this time of year is an incredible 89%. However, the temperature was fairly cool, with the session starting in temperatures around 17.9º, according to the thermometers carried by club officials.

75 minute session

The squad trained for 75 minutes in an extraordinarily beautiful stadium. It started with the usual warm-up drills, which the fans thoroughly enjoyed, with cameras flashing every second. The exercises were deliberately done right in front of the stand where 3,000 spectators had gathered to see their heroes.

Circuit training and visitors

The players then did a series of circuits involving sprints and ball control. The goalkeepers trained separately, while it was all overseen by President Joan Laporta, manager Frank Rijkaard and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.

Intense match

To end, the players that were substitutes in Yokohama (except for Giovani dos Santos ) played a four-a-side game on about a quarter of the pitch. The game ended 7-8, with Motta and Maxi scoring four goals each, and Abidal three. The other players, meanwhile, did stretching exercises.