The day before the FA cup derby and training as usual. A full squad on view apart from the 2 Toures and Gaz Baz given the day off.Although there today both Mario,first time out training for a week now, and Dzeko were not fully involved in everything.Each talking separately with Mancini no doubt to discuss their level of fitness and involvement in the session.
The young ones involved were Razak,Rekik and Suarez again and although Nedum was around there was no Bridge today.There felt like a nice buzz amongst the players as they all gathered and chatted or knocked balls around.Then it was into some regular warm up stuff quickly followed by Mancini taking the whole squad onto another pitch mainly for one of his sessions on team set up and formations all over the pitch but plenty of stretching exercises too.
Then back over for 5 minutes in keep ball circles followed by a variety of 1 or 2 touch passing games.All done at quick tempo with great movement around what was a fairly short playing area.To be any good at this stuff you really do have to have a great first touch and awareness of whats around you.The quality on view was superb.
And finally a game which started off with an early goal.Milner releasing Zaba on a great overlap run ,his cross met by Dzeko but brilliantly blocked by Savic only for Kolarov to hammer home the loose ball and boy did he hit it!The next goal was just sensational when a ball bounced out to Milner about 20 yards out and he hit a right foot volley in to the top corner with nobody moving.Silva got the next when a ball brokke to himHe had time and curled a lovely shot into the corner with the keeper flying across but failing to get a touch.Then finally Milner turned a Zaba cross in for the 4th goal.
Goals apart I though the game was played at high intensity with really no room /time to dwell on the ball.Clichy at times was so fast and aggressive at closing down I reckon his opposition would rather have been on the other wing.Hargreaves was nicely efficient and looking fit although obviously not match fit and needing more work.Rekik growing in stature every time I see him,Razak strong in midfield,Kolarov very strong and always looking to get forward.I could have got on the end of one his low balls fizzed across the box but I thought better of it:)
It wasn't the longest overall session or game but a good one and everyone gearing up for a big game.
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