FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.07.2007 11:07

Training and tests

Sandra Sarmiento / Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona's round of physical tests and training continued on Sunday as the players enjoyed their second day back at work. While some of the squad trained on the pitch, others were inside the stadium undergoing medical examinations.

On the field in front of La Masia, the red and green groups were put through their paces as Víctor Valdés, Juliano Belletti, Deco, Santi Ezquerro, Jesús Olmo and Giovani Dos Santos formed one set and Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram, Xavi, Eidur Gudjohsen, Thiago Motta and Nojan Krkic made up the other. The rest of the players were in the club's medical rooms.

Warming to the occasion

After undergoing some stretching exercises, the players were mixed up again for a round of piggy-in-the-middle. In one group were Motta, Marc Crosas, Dimas, Deco, Belletti, Krkic, Frank Rijkaard and the fitness coach, Albert Roca, while in the second set were Thuram, Xavi, Zambrotta, Valdés, Ezquerro, Dos Santos, Eusebio and Johan Neeskens.

More exercises

The players then carried out more physical exercises as they they had to continue running until being given a signal, whereupon they had to sit-ups or press-ups followed by a sprint before returning to the slower pace and wait for another signal.

Footballs were then introduced as the squad paired up to pass between each other and then the session finished with some shooting practice. While one group worked with the ball the other began the physical circuit.

Gudjohnsen, Dimas and Marc Crosas

Soon after training began, Gudjohnsen withdrew, while Crosas and Dimas, who have both already passed their physical tests with the B team, were training in front of La Masia for the third time in three days.