FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.11.2008 17:58

Returning to training

Berta Brau / Anna Segura

Pep Guardiola welcomed back several players from international duty at training on Thursday afternoon, leaving only Rafael Márquez and Daniel Alves to make their return on Friday.

After the midweek break for friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, the Blaugrana reported back for duty on Thursday with the first team squad and there were only two absentees. Márquez played for Mexico against Honduras and Alves was with Brazil for their game against Portugal with both matches taking place in the early hours of Thursday, European time.

In the Miniestadi

The session took place in the Miniestadi at 17:30 with Carles Puyol, who played for Spain against Chile on Wednesday night, did not go out on to the pitch and instead remained inside to be treated for a stomach upset and a headache.

Xavi, Aliaksandr Hleb, Thierry Henry and Martín Cáceres, who also all played in midweek, they did make it and enjoyed an easy run-out-.

Specific training

Xavi, Hleb, Henry and Cáceres joined Sergio Busquets, who played for Spain Under-21’s on Tuesday, in a warming down training routine that was shorter than the rest of the players’ session. After stretching, the five stars then went through a specific programme for them.