21.03.2007 18:41
Barça feel the cold
The first springtime training session at the La Masia was dominated by cold weather.
Despite being the first day of spring, the wind and the cold weather dominated a training session
in the which 12 players participated at La Masia training pitch. The players were exactly the same
12 that took part in Tuesday’s training and are the players without international obligations
this week - plus Gudjohnsen who has yet to join up with the Icelandic team.
The weather conditions forced Barça such as players Sylvinho, Motta and Messi to wear the
type of woolly hat normally kept for the coldest days of winter.
The goalkeepers, on the sideline
At the start of the session the players warmed-up by running and doing some physical work.
Afterwards the players did a single ‘circuit’ for the 10 outfield players while the
goalkeepers continued their physical exercises with Juan Carlos Unzué. The session continued with
an exercise in pairs practicing short and long distance passing.
Plenty of physical work
Despite not having a game this weekend, the training session focused on the physical
conditioning of the players. They underwent a circuit that combined sprints, strength exercises,
dribbling and passing with shots on goal. The circuits were practiced on the right and the left
while the intensity and the rhythm of execution was noticeable. The circuits were mixed with ball
control exercises in tight spaces during which Rikjaard told the players that make use of free
space and defensive pressure.