FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.12.2009 11:38

Messi trains on beach

Roger Bogunyà (enviat especial)

Leo Messi, who remains a doubt for Wednesday's semi final, trained on the beach opposite the Hotel Shangri-la. He did some ball work and other exercises and is expected to join the rest of the group for some of this afternoon's training session.

Just opposite the team's base at the Hotel Shangri-la at 11.15 local time, the world's best player emerged for a personal training session on the hotel's private beach. Messi worked out for an hour in the idyllic setting of the beach, whose light sand is perfect for strengthening muscles, having an effect similar to the exercisie with medicine balls the squad frequently go through.

Working with and without the ball

Messi's session on the beach was aimed at checking progress on the stability of his ankle, working on reinforcing the joint through exercising on an unstable surface – the sandy beach. This technique, known as static and dynamic proprioceptive, involves resting on one leg and shooting with the other. In addition, Messi completed a series of ball control exercises, before taking a cooling dip in the sea.

Third session

This morning's workout was Messi's first session on the beach – on Monday he did recovery exercises in the gym and this afternoon he will join the rest of the squad for part of their training session.