23.05.2007 11:49
Barça preparing for Getafe
Jesús Carrillo/Aleix Santacana
After a day off, Frank Rijkaard’s squad got back to work on Wednesday. The injured Rafa Márquez was the only player to miss the session, while the surprise was Deco’s new image.
After injuring his right leg on Tuesday, the Mexican centre back will be out of action for two
weeks, but it was work as usual for the other players at La Masia. Before the usual warm-up
routines, Rijkaard spent several minutes speaking to the players.
Edmílson on his own
For the first half hour, the Brazilian worked in isolation, having taken a knock in the game
at the Vicente Calderón on Sunday. However, it is nothing serious, and he should be fine by the
weekend.
On and off the ball
It was a session that combined both skill and fitness work, first with and then without the
ball. The central exercise was a fitness circuit in which the players combined a full-on workout
with short periods of rest.
Games to end
Rijkaard then divided his players into three teams of six for a series of winner-stays-on
matches. Wearing yellow were the defenders (Sylvinho, Oleguer, Zambrotta, Thuram, Belletti and
Puyol), the midfielders were in blue (Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Gio, Motta and Deco) and the
strikers donned green bibs (Eto’o, Ezquerro, Ronaldinho, Messi, Giuly and Saviola).