Warm welcome for Zola

Gianfranco Zola has already proved a big hit in Beijing after a question-and-answer session with a group of local students.

The manager took time out to sit with the youngsters as they quizzed him on a range of football matters and his thoughts on China to kick-start the Barclays Asia Trophy. The event came before the first official press conference of the trip later on Tuesday, when Zola will look ahead to the meeting with Tottenham Hotspur at the Workers Stadium on Wednesday. Hull City will play Beijing Guoan later that day, with the two winners progressing to Friday's final after a play-off for third place for the losers.

The whole West Ham squad held a successful first training session in the Chinese capital on Monday evening, with each of the 23 players taking a full part. After a lengthy fitness programme with Antonio Pintus, the players were divided up to work with the ball in different groups with Zola, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen.

As more and more locals gathered after spotting the proceedings while on their way home from work, the coaching staff emphasised the need for energy, enthusiasm and concentration. Despite the long journey from London, there was plenty of that on show and, with the floodlights now on fully, the practice match that finished the training was as competitive as you would expect given this stage of pre-season.

Throughout the medical staff ensured the players took on plenty of liquids, given the humidity, and the warm-down saw plenty of attention given to aching muscles. There was a final burst of finishing practice for the forwards with Robert Green, who had until then been working intensely with Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz under Ludek Miklosko's watchful eye, before the players walked off ready for a deserved rest.