Ronald Koeman continues to accelerate the steps so that the team arrives in the best possible conditions for the first official game of the season: LaLiga's debut against Villarreal next Sunday. This morning the team exercised at the Ciutat Esportiva, in a session that lasted almost an hour and a half, and where a significant physical workload was done.
However, this Friday's session had a very important special component. And it was the first time in six years that Luis Suárez was absent from training. A loss that the team will have to gradually assume because Barcelona consummated his farewell last Wednesday in an emotional act where the Uruguayan striker could not avoid tears.
The one who was most affected was Leo Messi, who did not forget his partner in fatigue and sent a strong farewell message through social networks, with a message included to the board, before starting the morning session, from the same dressing room.
Other players, such as Sergio Busquets or Jordi Alba, who shared so many moments, some very good and others not so many, during these six seasons, were also affected by the absence of the Uruguayan forward.
But life goes on. Ronald Koeman has already started to lighten the squad. This week five players have been released -Arturo Vidal, Nelson Semedo, Luis Suárez, Moussa Wagué and Jorge Cuenca-, So the staff, in the absence of any more exit and the reinforcements that have to come, are already beginning to adapt to their needs.
The coach still has two more work sessions ahead of him to prepare the team. On Saturday morning, after which he will hold his first telematic press conference of the season, and on the day of the match, in an activation session, where he will later give the call.