Champions League - Henry and Iniesta set to play

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 19:22:00 2009

Barcelona are confident Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League final against Manchester United, according to coach Pep Guardiola.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Champions League - Barcelona's Andres Iniesta sits on the pitch during a training session a day before their Champions League final against Manchester United at the Olympic Stadium in Rome - 0

"Today is the last training session and we will see how their condition is," Guardiola said. "I think they will be there tomorrow. I am confident."

Spain midfielder Iniesta is recovering from a strained thigh muscle and France striker Henry is bidding to shake off a knee injury before the final in Rome.

"If they play they are okay. If they are not okay they are not going to play," Guardiola said.

Goalkeeper Victor Valdes said Barcelona will not be hamstrung by their defensive problems.

Guardiola will be forced to field a makeshift rearguard with full-backs Eric Abidal and Dani Alves suspended and central defender Rafael Marquez injured.

"We are missing important players in defence but we also have great replacements," Valdes said. "I completely trust my team-mates."

Guardiola is expected to switch captain Carles Puyol to the right flank with Yaya Toure at centre-half and another converted midfielder, Seydou Keita, taking Abidal's place on the left.

Puyol said he was confident that whatever solution his coach chose would work out as Barca bid for a treble after winning the Copa del Rey and La Liga.

"The team is in good shape. We have great players and the coach will play them in the right positions," the 31-year-old said. "I am certain that everything is going to be just perfect."

Guardiola also seemed relaxed about the situation.

"I know we are missing important players but that cannot be an excuse," he added. "If we can't play with a defender at 100 per cent we'll just play with more forwards."

Puyol stressed, however, that for all their confidence Barca know the defending European champions present a massive challenge.

"There is a very good feeling. We know we have an historic opportunity," he said.

"We know we are up against a great team. They have a great defence and lots of quality players who can make the difference. We have to look at the team as a whole."

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Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. was lies about bein out anyway prob same as ferdinand

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Wed 27 May 7:09PM

  2. nnnnooooo

    From TR, on Wed 27 May 6:15PM

  3. This story of Chelsea being cheated is becomming to be­ a bore!.....the fact is, that a team leading by one and­ playing against a team with one less...and not being­ able to defend their goal and not being able to make a­ goal..."Doesnt deserve to be in the finals".

    From marilacson, on Wed 27 May 2:20PM

  4. Tonight its a night of champion.. Barca beat chelsea ­ and manu beat arsenal .. Hope this final will be­ against all odds that people think of football.... UEFA­ should be alert...

    manu and barca are chasing­ history.. treble etc etc... liverpool did it already..
    ­ .. great team make historical finals..
    the rest chase­ the historic teams.. ha ha

    From Bhrm, on Wed 27 May 12:51PM

  5. Barca is set for a showdown. Don't be surprised if­ they do. All they are saying is YES WE CAN!. I can hear­ this ery clearly. UP BARCA !

    From David, on Wed 27 May 12:49PM

  6. Remember that Barcelona are only in this final by­­ default. It should have been United against Chelsea­­ again. Chelsea outwitted Barca in both semi final legs­­ and Barca were frankly unimpressive. They only reached­­ the final thanks to insane refereeing­ decisions.
    United­ must win this for England.
    If Barca­ do it, their­ victory will have a hollow ring to it and­ UEFA should­ hang their heads in shame.
    The EPL rules!

    From davidncollins, on Wed 27 May 12:29PM

  7. Man. United, EXpect the worst nightmare. Barcelona is­ set to attack. Expect PUYOL & KEITA to score goals­ and defend as well. Chelsea's dirty tactics­ won't work tonight! BARCELONA is the best team N­ MESI is the best player in the world.

    From A J M, on Wed 27 May 11:39AM

  8. like Bob Marley...we shd not be afraid of tomorrow, we­ have seen yesterday and we love today. Barca will­ triumph no matter......

    From mfon b, on Wed 27 May 9:16AM

  9. ferdinand's a tube-- come on barca.
    ­ stevie-boy.

    From john, on Wed 27 May 3:54AM

  10. Those two I do not care what I want to know is if Rio­ is playing

    From Roon Ferdinand, on Wed 27 May 3:23AM

  11. With Henry and Iniesta hobbling all over the pitch and­ the fat defenders rolling along desperately trying to­ keep up with the express trains of Ronaldo, Rooney and­ Park, could a record victory for United in European­ competition be on the cards?

    From Winston Bunn, on Tue 26 May 11:09PM

  12. Fantastic news!!!!

    From w.tuttle, on Tue 26 May 10:47PM
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