29.05.2007 12:08
First ‘family’ training session for Barça
Sandra Sarmiento/Aleix Santacana
The international exodus has left Frank Rijkaard with just eight first team players to work with. To make up the numbers, ten reserve team players were invited to participate in the Tuesday session.
The new faces at la Masia today were Olmo, Valiente, Crosas, Orlandi, Víctor Vázquez, Sastre,
Thaer, Giovani, Calvo and Busquets, who got the chance to train alongside some of the FC Barcelona
first team (Valdés, Jorquera, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Belletti, Motta, Giuly and Ezquerro). However, the
still injured Rafa Márquez was absent as he continues his recovery programme.
A chance against Nàstic
The bulk of these players will be taking on Nàstic of Tarragona this Thursday in the semi
finals of the Copa Catalunya, and that is another reason why Rijkaard preferred to get everybody
together early.
The usual warm-up drills involved splitting the players into
two groups. One featured all the first teamers plus Marc Crosas, while the other reserves formed a
second group.
Fitness drills and a game
The lion’s share of the session involved practice of long balls and an obstacle-packed
circuit that ended with shots on goals defended by keepers Valdés and Jorquera.
And it all ended with a short 9 against 9 practice match. Playing in blue we had Jorquera,
Sylvinho, Belletti, Valiente, Víctor Vázquez, Crosas, Giovani, Giuly and Ezquerro, and playing in
yellow were Valdés, Oleguer, Olmo, Motta, Sastre, Busquets, Orlandi, Thaer and Toni Calvo.
The next training session will be on Thursday morning at 10.30.