FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.07.2009 21:13

US coach observes training

Berta Brau / Jordi Clos / David Saura

US Soccer boss Bob Bradley attended Friday’s training session in LA, which began with a minute’s silence for the late Sir Bobby Robson.

Barca’s stateside tour continues to capture the country’s attention and on Friday the national coach Bob Bradley was an observer at the team’s training session at the UCLA facilities. Bradley praised Barca’s “capacity to keep possession and the pressure they apply when they don’t have the ball”, as well as the players’ “humility and fighting spirit”. Bradley was particularly impressed with Xavi –“he’s the key to the whole team” and also praised Guardiola, “I’d followed him as a player and now I’m watching him closely as a coach”.

Minute’s silence for Robson

The session began at 10.00 local time with a minute’s silence for Sir Bobby Robson, after which the 24-strong squad, including Andres Iniesta who continues to train apart from the rest of the squad with his own personal coach, went through a series of physical exercises ending with some shooting practice. The session finished with a practice game on a small pitch to work on particular tactics in defence and attack,