FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.02.2009 18:08

Everyone but Márquez

Marc Guillén / Vanessa Forns

Guardiola had all of his internationals back for training on Thursday apart from Rafa Márquez, who after playing against the USA in Columbus (Ohio) was not able to make it back in time.

The main focus of Thursday’s training session was the game this weekend against Betis. Other than Rafa Márquez, this was the first session of the week at which the full squad was together, with the majority of the players only having just got back from international duty.

Four Barça Atlètic players

The session took place at the Ciudad Deportiva and involved the participation of four players from Barça Atlètic, all of whom are suspended and can’t play their official game this weekend, namely Verdés, Botia, Abraham and Jonathan. The injured Carles Puyol and Milito, meanwhile, were there but trained in isolation from the rest.

Recovery for some

The ten players that appeared in all or most of their respective international matches, Piqué, Xavi, Iniesta, Eto'o, Touré, Cáceres, Messi, Abidal, Henry and Gudjohnsen, went through the usual recovery routine of jogging and stretching exercises.

But Bojan and Dani Alves, who played their games on Tuesday, trained normally. So did Sergio Busquets, who didn’t get to play for Spain against England, and Keita, who trained on Wednesday having come to an agreement to be excused from the friendly game for Mali.