13.04.2007 12:02
Coordination and pressurising at La Masia
The squad of FC Barcelona continue preparations ahead of Sunday’s league match with Mallorca. With the exception of Motta and Ronaldinho, who trained at the gym, Rikjaard’s men worked on pressurising drills again this Friday.
The first team squad trained on Friday morning under intermittent rain at La Masia pitch. The Barça
players once more concentrated on pressurising opponents among other aspects in the build-up to
Sunday’s clash with Mallorca.
Return to La Masia
With the exception of Thiago Motta and Ronaldinho - who trained at the gym – the squad
underwent the second last training session ahead of the clash with the team for the Balearic
Islands. After training on Thursday at the Miniestadi, Rikjaard’s team this time trained at
La Masia pitch.
Coordination exercises
After the warm-up and the usual circuits, the players - under the guidance of the physical
trainers - carried out a series of coordination style exercises. The aim of which was to try and
coordinate movements and synergies.
Pressurising again
Once finalised the coordination exercises the players continued working on one of the basic
aspects that has been a priority this week: pressurising. On this occasion the squad was divided
into two teams of nine players. During the exercise the goalkeepers continued their own physical
preparation separately together with Juan Carlos Unzué.
Eto’o and Thuram, back to normal
The team in blue bibs was made up of Zambrotta, Iniesta, Puyol, Gudjohnsen, Márquez,
Ezquerro, Thuram, Saviola and Gio, while the yellow bibs were worn by were Messi, Sylvinho,
Oleguer, Belletti, Xavi, Edmílson, Deco, Eto’o and Giuly. For the second consecutive day both
Eto’o and Thuram trained normally.
Attacks with numeric superiority
In the exercise involving teams of nine players, the objective was to work on pressurising
through a defence-attack drill with numeric superiority. Five players from one team attacked while
three from the other team defended. At the end of the exercise the goalkeepers re-joined the rest
of their team mates.