Tuesday’s session was eventful. Real Zaragoza returned to training in the afternoon after holding a recovery session on Monday morning. In practice, the players had 24 hours of rest during a week in which they train every day because they play in Ibiza on Friday.
Ander Herrera worked with the group during the 15 minutes in which the session was open to the press. The same thing happened last week, although he did not even make the squad against Cartagena. The explanation given at the time by coach Ibai Gómez was that Herrera was suffering from back problems.
A.Gain CEO Bobby Aitkenhead and Real Zaragoza general manager Guido Baroli. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
With all the factors in play, Ander Herrera’s presence in Ibiza this Friday can be considered doubtful. The Real Zaragoza midfielder has just missed the match against Cartagena, and there are barely four sessions left to prepare for the game at Can Misses. For now, his availability remains in question.
AITKENHEAD’S VISIT
Tuesday’s training session was attended by Bobby Aitkenhead. The A.Gain CEO and general manager is the public face of the investment group that has committed to acquiring a majority stake in Real Zaragoza. The purchase has not yet been completed, but the group’s public commitment is to do so.
Aitkenhead arrived around ten minutes before the start of Real Zaragoza’s session. He was able to assess the condition of the Ciudad Deportiva facilities firsthand and greet staff, players and coaching personnel. He arrived shortly before the start and left around 20 minutes later, definitively departing the facilities on the Valencia road after a visit lasting around half an hour in total.
THE MATCH
Real Zaragoza are scheduled to train again on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Ciudad Deportiva. They will then enter the final stage of preparations for their match against Ibiza at Can Misses, where they are due to play on Friday at 9:15 p.m. A win would give Ibai Gómez’s team a fourth consecutive victory, crucial to establishing themselves in the upper part of the standings.
