Champions League - Iniesta declares himself fit

Eurosport - Mon, 11 May 13:44:00 2009

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta expects to be fit for the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 - Chelsea-Barcelone - Iniesta - 0

The Spain international picked up a thigh muscle injury in the 3-3 Liga draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

Initially Iniesta was ruled out of the showpiece match in Rome but having undergone further tests on the injury on Monday, he now believes he will be fit to play.

"I will be in Rome," Iniesta said as he left the hospital. "It is a small tear that wasn't as bad as we thought. The enthusiasm I have to play in the final will help my recovery."

Iniesta, who scored the goal that took Barca past Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final last week, has been ruled out of Wednesday's Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

Reuters

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  1. What's the matter webmaster - have you dropped off­ to sleep - there's been no comments on this site­ for some time - wakey, wakey, please and do something.

    From heatherkean, on Wed 20 May 4:28PM
  2. people are always saying man u is gona win They take­ barca for granted but remember this a team who scored­ 129 goals this season. I know man u went on a 12 game­ without leting a goal i respect that but u also have­ to respect that barca score more goals then any team, I­ am fan of man u and barca but i like barca more do to­ the way thier playing this season. I Know man u is­ gona play like chelsea did .They are gona try to score­ early and then have like the whole team defense just­ like last year,. So its the best attack team vs the­ best defence team . BUt barca should win cause of how­ hard they have played..In the other hand man u is­ talking about ronaldo leaaving. But ronaldo is good­ player but he whines to much and gets mad wen he doesnt­ have stuff his way . I hope GOD help barca. GOOd luck­ man u can win the game so its 50%50%.

    From kevinm, on Wed 13 May 9:43PM
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    From henrystreet1, on Wed 13 May 5:30PM
  4. Iniesta, dont bother playing in the final.. there are­ no medals of barca fools

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 13 May 12:58PM
  5. Iniesta, dont bother playing in the final.. there are­ no medals of barca fools

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 13 May 10:33AM
  6. Iniesta, dont bother playing in the final.. there are­ no medals of barca fools

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 13 May 10:33AM
  7. Iniesta, dont bother playing in the final.. there are­ no medals of barca fools

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Wed 13 May 10:32AM
  8. 41. I'm not saying Arsenal are as good as Barca,­ but what I am saying is don't expect to see United­ sit back and hit them on the brake. Barca have got 4­ maybe 5 first team players out for the final and they­ don't have the depth United have got. Also United­ will keep possesion far better than Cheski.

    From The Manc, on Wed 13 May 9:06AM
  9. The Manc,

    I think Henry's absence is good for­ United. He would be useful on the break. Barcelona are­ a much better team than Arsenal even without several­ regulars. Surely though the defensive problems will be­ tough. I remember when we lost to Milan in 2007. People­ forget that United missed 3 first choice defenders in­ BOTH legs including both Ferdinand and Vidic at Old­ Trafford. Most, if not all. of the goals could be­ attributed to defensive mistakes that probably would­ not have happened had United been at something like­ full strength in defence. Instead ,the goals were­ attributed to Kaka who on the strength of a couple of­ good performances against United's 2nd string­ defence won European player of the year over Ronaldo­ who had been much the better player all­ season.

    Defense is the most important thing. The­ important point for United now is to have the title­ done and dusted before Hull. 3 days before the final­ the last thing Fergie will want is to risk any first­ team regulars in a game where Hull will be playing­ dirty and trying to injure United players in the hope­ of getting a result. United need to get the 4 points­ sorted and then play their 3rd string against Hull.

    From Anon, on Tue 12 May 11:33PM
  10. What a load of tripe James D. It does not matter if­ Iniesta plays or not, United will go out there and play­ like they did against Arsenal. They have nothing to­ fear from Barca, they are favourites to win the final­ for one good reason United have full squad and Barca­ don't, United have come into really good form for­ the first time this season taking control of games and­ winning games with a bit of purpose. I'm not saying­ Barca are not a good side but they will be fielding an­ unfamiliar side in a final and they don't have the­ depth in the squad like United, and that is bad news­ for them. From a neutral point of view United are to­ strong and should win if no key players get injured.

    From The Manc, on Tue 12 May 10:07PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If Iniesta plays, United win. If he doesn't play,­ Barca win.

    This is why:

    Iniesta is Barca's best­ player in possession. United's key to winning is to­ let Barca dominate possession and defend in depth - as­ they did in the semi final last year. They then hit on­ the break - as they did last year and as Chelski did­ this year. With all Barca's fast defenders out of­ the final they will not be able to cope with Ronaldo et­ al. On the other hand, without Iniesta, I can see­ United having more possession and actually being­ themselves susceptible on the break to Eto'o and­ Messi.

    It is good that Henry is out of the final as­ this will be one less component to worry about in terms­ of being hit on the break. However, INIESTA MUST PLAY­ FOR UNITED TO WIN!!

    From James D, on Tue 12 May 7:40PM
  12. Messi Messi Messi

    From oujj c, on Tue 12 May 4:49PM
  13. He better play because he is one of the many reasons­ for barcelona success!!!
    even though I am an Arsenal­ Fan and I wish Arsenal would be here......seek revenge­ on these players!!!! as long as someone wins besides­ manchester united........iniesta BRILLIANT­ PLAYER......come join arsenal mate :D
    THIS WILL BE A­ FINAL TO WATCH!!!!
    haha all my friends are manchester­ united.......w/e only because of ronaldo who is a @#$%

    From gunners4 lyfe:), on Tue 12 May 1:27PM
  14. I think football is all about heart, and will. Barca­ are at a disadvantage due to the fact that many of­ their key players are either missing or injured.­ Nevertheless, they r able to destroy MU with simply the­ players available. All it takes is 3 goals (Messi,­ Henry, Eto'o), and MU will be shattered. Barca have­ already showed so much heart (93 minute goal in semi),­ and are capable of taking down MU.

    From ChadiH, on Tue 12 May 12:03PM
  15. Iniesta looks like a ghost!

    From Edna Bucket, on Tue 12 May 11:32AM
  16. ya, 1 glimpse of quiet Messi touch, 1 flash of Iniesta­ magic, 1 shot that that 'world class' keeper­ CANNOT even saved, 1 shot on target n that proved more­ than enough to make all u chelski or so called EPL fans­ whining n murmuring the whole week..! 1 shot that went­ straight to Rome..!

    live with that..!!

    From carlamms, on Tue 12 May 10:20AM
  17. EPL teams have been dominant force in the pas few years­ in the CL. SO all of u insinuating that Barca will be­ too much i would advise you to watch the quarter finals­ again. Barca was in trouble the whole time against­ Chelsea, despite being the better team overall. 1 stat­ which speaks a lot, at the bridge barca had 1 single­ shot on target, that doesnt show just an amazing­ defence, but a struggling attack.

    From irshad_0, on Tue 12 May 8:28AM
  18. epl team not playing football like spain and italy.they­ playing taekwondo or rugby..so Barca will teach MU­ football like what did Milan teach Man U in San siro by­ 3-0 past two years

    From muhd, on Tue 12 May 2:52AM
  19. EVEN IF INIESTA PLAYS, MU WILL BEAT BARÇA!!!
    WITHOUT­ HIM, THIS FINAL WILL BE NO CHALLENGE FOR MU. HE IS­ BARÇA'S KEY PLAYER.
    CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHO IS­ MESSI????

    From Vítor, on Mon 11 May 11:57PM
  20. Tim, shut up and take your face for a @#$%. You do not­ have a clue about the game and espeacially the EPL. Man­ Utd are a diffrent kettle of fish to Chelski, and with­ Barca only having half a defence available, you want to­ hope Man Utd don't take the piss to much. Go and­ watch cricket or netball, or take up chess. It has to­ be better than embarressing yourself on here.

    From The Manc, on Mon 11 May 9:47PM
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