FCBARCELONA.CAT

17.01.2008 12:02

Tough return to work

David Puig/Anna Segura

After a day off yesterday, Wednesday, the first team trained this morning at the Miniestadi in a session which focussed on fitness work. Thoughts are now turning to Sunday’s league match against Racing.

The Barça players have had their first training session after getting through to the quarter finals of the Spanish Cup. Now they have to concentrate on the League and the visit of Racing de Santander this Sunday to the Camp Nou (9 pm).

Oleguer pronounced fit

This morning’s session featured all available players plus Messi and Oleguer. The latter has been given the green light by club doctors today Thursday to return to action, while Messi trained normally with the rest of his team mates.

Ronaldinho and Edmílson did not make an appearance and are continuing with their recovery programmes. Ezquerro was also missing as he has a sports hernia.

Fitness session

After warming up the players were made to sweat as the first part of the session focussed on fitness work. For almost an hour they forgot about the ball and did circuit training.

Game to work on pressurising opponents

When the ball did come into play there was no let up. The players split up into two teams and played a match on a small pitch with no goalkeepers. The focus was on ball control and especially on putting pressure on opponents.

The team with the orange bibs was made up of Márquez, Zambrotta, Gudjohnsen, Giovani, Sylvinho, Deco and Oleguer. Their opponents, wearing blue, were Puyol, Abidal Thuram, Bojan, Xavi and Iniesta. Henry and Messi, kitted out in yellow bibs, were wild cards who switched sides so that they were always playing with the team that had the ball.