FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.10.2008 10:14

Strolling around Donetsk

Sergi Nogueras/Anna Segura

The FC Barcelona players walked around the streets of Donetsk at midday on Wednesday, only hours before they play Shakhtar in the Champions League.

Now the norm under coach Pep Guardiola, the first-team squad went for a stroll to have a look around the locality on the morning of the game. Whenever the players do not do a warm-up training session on the day they play, they go out for a walk about instead this season.

A short walk

Leaving the Hotel Donbass Palace at 12pm (CET, 11am local time) the whole squad, except for Samuel Eto’o who was confused about when everyone would leave, have gone out and headed for the gardens known as Pushkina Boulevard, where they walked around for about 20 minutes.

Meeting the fans

With the sun being out, the players were able to enjoy the warm temperatures before they were then met by around 50 Ukrainian Barça supporters who were waiting with scarves and shirts on outside the hotel for photographs and autographs from their heroes in person.

Touré returns

Touré Yaya was at the centre of attention during the walk about as the Ivory Coast midfielder is very known in Ukraine after his spell with Metalurh, the other team in the city where Barça will play tonight. A few old friends turned up to see the player and they talked about football for a few minutes.