Training camp in Spain: Les Gones get straight to work

8h30. The sun, the palm trees, the Spanish language reminiscent of summer holidays - none of this could have foreshadowed such a session. The winter holidays already seem like a distant memory after the OL players got straight to business Wednesday morning in their first full day in Spain. After an 8:30 am weigh-in, Bruno Genesio's squad ate breakfast before heading out to the training pitch located a few hundred meters from their hotel.

Préparation physique et renforcement musculaire au programme ce matin. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/L6bifglmcX

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) January 2, 2019

10h. It was here, in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by the town's celebrated golf courses, that the first day of Lyon's Spanish training camp began. Genesio opened up the proceedings with a brief speech before the players warmed up with some jogging. Then it was on to core training, with dumbbells, elastic bands and medicine balls among the mounds of equipment waiting for them. Nabil Fekir worked at an intense pace, with just a few seconds of rest between work sets.  

Léo Dubois 

On élimine tout ce qu’on a fait pendant les vacances et on se retrouve tous ensemble donc c’est bien. On a bien bossé ce matin pour préparer le début d’année. Il y a le soleil et il ne fait pas trop chaud. Le travail athlétique, c’est important. Mais on a tous envie de toucher le ballon. Bien manger, bien se reposer et après place au ballon !

Réaction de @leodubois15 après cette première grosse séance ! 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/yCI6idggEq

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) January 2, 2019

16h. The players were back on the ground late in the afternoon for the second session of the day. This time the focus was ball work, specifically technical drills that helped Les Gones get their rhythm back. Genesio then worked tactical details and arranged an inter-squad match using the entirety of the pitch. Tomorrow, a second straight double session awaits. 

Day 1 recap in Spain: