Italy fullback Gianluca Zambrotta has joined France defender
Lilian Thuram in questioning the wisdom of Barcelona's nine-day
pre-season tour of Asia.
"It would be better to stay here and prepare really well for
next season. It's a long way and it isn't easy for the players,"
Zambrotta told a news conference on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Thuram said: "It isn't good for the team's
preparation but that's the way football is these days and all the
world's big clubs do them (tours)."
Some of Barca's players, including Brazilian playmaker
Ronaldinho, blamed last August's two-week pre-season tour of the
United States and Mexico as one of the reasons for their poor
showing in the ensuing campaign.
They said the punishing schedule of promotional events,
travelling and friendly matches disrupted their training so they
were not at peak fitness for when the season kicked off.
Barca finished second in the Primera Liga and failed to win any
major trophies last season.
This time round the Catalan club's bosses claim they have
learned their lesson and have planned a shorter tour with fewer
commitments.
They set out for Beijing yesterday and return to Spain on August
11, after playing three friendlies in nine days.
On August 5, they face Beijing Guoan in the Chinese capital and
two days later play Yokohama Marinos in Japan. On August 10, they
take on the Mission Hills Invitation XI in Hong Kong.
(China Daily via Agencies August 3, 2007)