Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry Will Be Fit for Champions League Final
Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry will be ready for the Champions League final against Manchester United on 27 May, according to Barcelona medical staff. Both have begun running and Iniesta is expected to return to light ball work on Thursday.
Henry's full recovery is fractionally more doubtful but Barcelona remain optimistic about both players. "They will make it [for the final]," said a source at the club.
Henry picked up a knee ligament injury during Barcelona's 6–2 victory over Real Madrid on 2 May and Iniesta suffered a two-centimeter tear in his thigh muscle during the 3–3 home draw with Villarreal eight days later.
Both were rated as doubtful for the final but scans on Iniesta's thigh show that the tear has now healed and he is continuing hill runs and weights with physios from the club. Staff have also worked to relax the stretched cruciate ligament that Henry suffered and he too has returned to running.
"It is a little harder for Henry to get back to full fitness and sharpness because he's a tank and, besides, his problem is articular," a source revealed. "But even if it is by the skin of the teeth, he'll be there if the manager [Pep Guardiola] needs him. Just. But he'll be there."
© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 5/19/2009
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