FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.08.2007 19:34

Double training for Messi

www.fcbarcelona.cat

All of Barça’s players are in action now that Leo Messi is back in Barcelona. At 11.00 this morning the Argentinian trained at La Masia for the first time since returning, and was there again in the early evening.

Rafa Márquez and Gaby Milito had just finished training when Messi arrived at 10.00. The three players spoke briefly before going off to do their separate tasks.

Gentle start

The young Argentinian was not put under too much stress on his first day back, with some simple exercises with and without the ball. After warming up, he and his fitness coach challenged each other to see who could hit the crossbar the most times. He was only on the field for about half and hour while Márquez and Milito were given a far more challenging series of activities based on strength, resistance and mobility. They were exposed to a circuit that involved different stages focused on strength, changes of pace, fitness and ball control.

Gudjohnsen in the afternoon

Eidur Gudjohnsen followed Márquez, Messi and Milito onto the Masia pitch for the late session, but only for 15 minutes as he is still recovering from injury. The quartet started with running races before separating into two groups. Milito and Márquez did a series of dribbling exercises, with passes into space, ball control and changes of pace. Gudjohnsen and Messi, meanwhile, combined running with ball control, passing and short fitness exercises.

Gudjohnsen left early, and Messi finished the session on his own, with the main focus being mobility.