FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.08.2007 18:30

Wet wet wet

David Saura

The rain was once against the protagonist at a Barça training session in Asia. There were two downpours as they worked out in Hong Kong, but Rijkaard insisted that the players saw the session out to the end.

Typhoon Pabuk is making itself felt. Barça endured even worse showers than yesterday as they trained at the Siu Sai Wan Stadium, a small stadium surrounded by breathtaking skyscrapers.

Water, water everywhere

The session had barely started when the heavens opened, bringing strong winds as well. On several occasions it looked like Frank Rijkaard would surely opt to abandon the workout, but that never happened, and the day ended with a short match on three quarters of the pitch.

Iniesta scores

The players were divided into two teams. In blue there were Valdés, Thuram, Zambrotta, Valiente, Sylvinho, Iniesta, Touré, Albert Roca (fitness coach), Dos Santos, Henry and Ezquerro. The yellow team featured Jorquera, Abidal, Oleqguer, Olmo, Crosas, Motta, Xavi, Dimas, Eto’o, Maxi and Ronaldinho. The blues won thanks to a solitary Iniesta goal, in a game that was not helped by the fact that some areas of the pitch were so rain-sodden it was almost impossible to control the ball. But it was well worth the practice, because there is every chance that the game against the Mission Hills Invitation XI will be played in similar conditions.