FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.03.2008 12:48

Training in Sant Joan Despí

Sandra Sarmiento / Jordi Clos

The Barça first team squad members that are not on international duty and are fit trained at the club's Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper training complex alongside the youth teams.

Only players from Frank Rijkaard's squad were in attendance in Sant Joan Despí on Wednesday as the coaches put them through their paces together with the B team and Yago and Montoya from the youth ranks. Víctor Valdés, José Manuel Pinto, Sylvinho, Giovani Dos Santos, Santi Ezquerro and Samuel Eto'o all reported for duty.

Physical work

After warming up, the players completed a number of physical circuits that included obstacles and was followed by an exercise focussing on retaining possession in small space. Valdés and Pinto have worked away from the squad with coach Juan Carlos Unzué while young goalkeepers Oier, Planchería and Pau worked with Carles Busquets. Playing with the ball then came to the fore as the players were divided into teams of four for practice games.

The four teams were:

Yellow bibs: Pinto, Fali, Dimas, Botía, Ezquerro y Sylvinho.
Blue bibs: Valdés, Valiente, Víctor Sánchez, Jeffren, Giovani, Córcoles.
Green bibs: Oier, Pedrito, Abraham, Toribio, Guerra, Chico.
Pink bibs: Planchería, Espasandín, Montoya, Rueda, Edmílson, Eto'o.

Víctor Vázquez and Sergio Busquets were 'wild cards' in the games as the winners and losers in each match went on to play against each other.

The session was overseen by Johan Neeskens and Pep Guardiola, while Frank Rijkaard watched from the stands, alongside technical secretary Txiki Begiristain and youth team co-ordinator, José Ramón Alexanco.