Lovely sunny day but with quite a heavy frost the training was moved across to the 2 undersoil heated pitches.With NMT from BMoon we were ushered across to sit in the dug out by the side on the first pitch. Close and a great view apart from the low sun directly into our eyes.And the immediate good news was seeing David Silva come out to train.
As they were all gathering Hargreaves was already into his own pre training work out to get himself totally warmed up.No Vinnie today for obvious reasons but for me sensibly getting a little real rest although quite likely he will be with the team on Monday giving support.Nedum,Suarez,Rekik involved again but Bridge away with the EDS.I did notice Bridge sprinting off before their session had finished so maybe he had to be somewhere.Mario sat out today but was working inside.
After initial jogs and fairly gentle work out routines it was into 1 and then 2 touch passing games where the target was 10 completed passes for a goal.Initially it included using extras on the touchlines.The extras being the coaches.The main thing I noticed in this session was the constant encouragement coming from Brian Kidd.Always talking ,always positive and supportive giving instructions and praise all round.Back then into some more fitness routines with Silva getting a little individual work with Carminati. And to answer the question yes David looked absolutely fine.
The keepers were also training on the same pitch so we saw, and heard quite a lot of them working very hard as ever.One little exercise they did was challenging as a high ball was knocked in for the keeper to deal with under presssure but immediately after connecting with the cross they had to move to the side to deal with an incoming shot. Quite hard work especially when the challenge on the keeper was quite physical at times. Panti took one when Joe challenged him and landed on his foot. Quickly recovered thankfully.
The it was Mancini taking a team away to the pitch one further away ( also undersoil heated).It wasnt that easy to see stuff because of the low sun as much as the distance but what struck me was the attention to detail.It's always there with Mancini but maybe even more so today and this part of the overall session lasted a little longer than usual. Plenty on shape/formation but also time spent on attacking movements/finishing, corners ( attacking and defending) as well as a little on free kicks. The remaining players were left in a normal keep ball circle and many were switched into Mancini's "team" to go over the same work. I reckon Mancini was watching it all especially closely and anyone not getting it spot on was getting plenty of his attention!
So then into the end game.In the end there was just one goal but plenty of good stuff and near things.
Nigel heading over early on after easing a defender under the cross.
AK superbly volleyed a low cross in which Aguero headed just wide diving in at the far post.
Our crossing in general though wasnt very good.
One Silva move and break said everything about his class
Barry hit a cross first time but hit the stanchion just wide
Nasri was very involved and influential
Milner shot just wide but Joe got a fingertip to it.
It was a deflected Kolarov shot from 20 yards which went in giving Panti no chance.
Right at the end there was almost an opening for Nasri but Hargreaves did very well to bblock his shot.
The whistle went leaving Nigel to have a moan as his team were attacking and he was sure just about to equalise!!
Just 3 stayed out for a little extra. Joleon to work with Carminati and the usuals of Milner and Clichy. Mancini left with the rest and gave us a little acknowledgement which was nice and as we left Mario, in his white Bentley, was being mobbed by autograph hunters at the main gate and he too gave us a wave when he drove away.
All in all not the most intense training session ever but sensibly I would say after 2 days off and more time spent on details as well as
general fitness work.Tomorrow may well be different.
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