BARCELONA, Spain _ After two days of work with Jordi Perez, Ruben Della and Inaki Andreu on dribbling, ball control, dribbling, passing, et al, a final day awaited los promesos under the direction of the FC Barcelona training staff, a session of shooting and a shot at them in a friendly game.
This time the training staff was joined by Josep Gombau, the technical director of FC Barcelona's school program, coordinator for the club's international schools program and last year coached FCB's 9-10-year-old club side.
The morning session was devoted to shooting, with Jordi and Ruben closely scrutinizing everybody's ball striking, and Inaki returning to give Eric Ciancaglini more individual goalkeeper instruction.
(Jordi examines Paul Ehrenworth's striking angle)
(Casey Doyle practices his penalties)
(Josep Gombau demonstrates his form)
Since the afternoon session was the last under the direction of the FCB staff, it was dedicated to a tournament, with a staff of Jordi, Ruben, Josep, a few of their fellow trainers and Paul and Jorge against the two training groups: Messi & Eto'o.
Team Messi trailed 1-0 at halftime of their 30-minute, short-field game against FCB (result of some inspired goalkeeping by Eric Ciancaglini thanks to a goal by Paul -- traitor!... Paul's Note - The goal is one for the record books... he is the first American to score for an FC Barcelona team), but a second-half equalizer by Kyle Roach had the game even until the training staff scored three in the final three minutes to win 4-1.
Team Eto'o fared a little worse, even with Jorge, who jumped in goal to save a nervous-looking Drew Magee from being forced into the job. Jorge was chipped from the FCB defensive half, and Team Eto'o was beaten 3-0.
(Dave Mangone drives past Paul for Team Eto'o)
The final game was fairly one-sided with Kyle Roach scoring three times in the first half and leading a 3-0 victory. Without Jorge in this one, Drew Magee was forced into goal, came up big with a handful of saves but eventually was overwhelmed.
(Kyle Roach gets the last of his three)
Afterward, it was time to say thanks to Jordi and Ruben, who leaves for Egypt in about a week for a 10-month stay to open a FC Barcelona training school in the North African country. Jorge presented them with sweatshirts from his club, LSTS FC.
Thanks was also given to Paul for arranging the trip, presenting him with a Catalan soccer shirt, while awards _ with input from Jordi and Ruben _ were presented to Laura Greb, for her effort in managing to survive as the only girl on the 16-player excursion, and Matt Macey as the one to best exemplify the group in skill, effort, attitude and sportsmanship.
(Ruben may have to put this in storage while in Egypt)
Finally, Paul conveyed to the group the observations of Jordi, Ruben, Inaki and Josep, who paid them a compliment by saying if anybody had wandered by and noticed the training over the past week, they would not have been aware that the group was not part of the club's regular training program.
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