No player wants to get injured during the preparations. But maybe there was a small consolation for Onur Ayik and Petri Pasanen that they spent the first half of day....
No player wants to get injured during the preparations. But maybe there was a small consolation for Onur Ayik and Petri Pasanen that they spent the first half of day....
No player wants to get injured during the preparations. But maybe there was a small consolation for Onur Ayik and Petri Pasanen that they spent the first half of day in the weight room of the Al Wasl sports combine. The roomy confines are fully air-conditioned and offered Ayik and Pasanen some cooler temperatures while their teammates sweat it out in 32 degree Celsius temperatures outside. "This weight room is really one of the finest," said the Finnish international Pasanen, who has come to grips more with his gastro-intestinal problems and could laugh a bit more on Thursday.
Onur Ayik did not have much use for the state-of-the-art array of machinery, which is circled by a running track. Ayik instead completed intensive drills for more stability as he deals with a tweaked thigh. "The muscle is really hard, but it's slowly getting better," said Ayik. Fitness coach Yann-Benjamin Kugel had individual drills ready for both players.
Clemens Fritz also took a step forward, completing a number of running drills while also working on-ball drills with physiotherapist Stefan Wolters. "I hope that can train again with the team maybe on Friday," said Fritz.
Daniel Jensen could not have said it any better after tweaking his foot just before the end of the morning training. "This time it's not the side which was giving me Achilles tendon problems, but the other side. That all has a life of its own with me. I hope that I won't miss any time," said the Danish international.
The organisation of the second test match has a life of its own as well. After a number of attempts and varying information, word for good came down late Thursday night that the test match will not take place. Instead, Friday will be spent training hard again.
