25.07.2010 09:44
Tough first week
Núria Barnils
It’s been an intense and hot start to pre-season training at Can Barça, with the squad putting in a hard week’s work, staring on Tuesday, and enjoying a deserved day off today, Sunday.
The first week of training has been focussed primarily on physical work outs, as the players begin
to get back to full fitness, though there has also been time for skills work and tactics, which
assistant manager Tito Vilanova insists: “it’s good to work on and remember, During the
season there is so little time for that”.
Avoid the heat
The 10 first team players and 19 from
Barça B
have put in 8 sessions this week, working through the morning, after starting at 09.00
and also in the evening, with starts at 19.00 as the technical staff scheduled sessions to avoid
the intense midday heat.
New faces
For the new members of the squad and the technical staff, this has been an important
week to settle in at their new home. Brazilian
Adriano Correia
has impressed Vilanova, who commented: “he knows the language, the country and our
League. He can shoot with both feet and has qualities that will allow him to easily adapt to our
style of play”. Carles Busquets has also begun a new stage at the club as goalkeeping coach
and according to Pinto; “you can really tell that he has a lot of experience and is very
skilful”.
Evening meal
In order to round off the day and prepare for the next day’s
training, the players have been enjoying an
evening meal together
at the Ciutat Esportiva everyday, which has helped ensure a correct diet and the creation
of a positive group dynamic.
Fontàs and Vázquez in the gym
Although he trained with the rest of the group on Monday, Víctor Vázquez has spent
the rest of the week in the gym, working on his muscle tone, whilst Andreu Fontàs has also worked
apart from the rest of the squad, as he recovers from the broken metatarsal he suffered at the end
of last season. In addition, Isaac Cuevas joined the squad on Thursday.