Barcelona's Andres Iniesta in pledge to be fit to face Manchester United in final

Fearing the worst: Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola consoles Iniesta after he picked up a thigh injury
Andrew Hodgson13 April 2012

Barcelona'S Andres Iniesta said today he is determined to play in the Champions League Final against Manchester United despite injuring his thigh in his side's 3-3 draw at home to Villarreal.

The midfielder left the field a forlorn figure last night amid fears he had suffered a recurrence of the serious injury he picked up in November. But on leaving hospital this morning following further tests, Iniesta gave Barcelona a boost with the final in Italy just 16 days away.

"I will be in Rome," he said. "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."

Although Iniesta will definitely miss the final of the Copa del Rey, which sees Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao at Valencia's Mestalla stadium on Wednesday night, the latest medical bulletin is a relief for Pep Guaridola.

The Barcelona boss already has big problems with injury and suspension having denied him the services of defenders Eric Abidal, Daniel Alves and Rafael Marquez for the clash against United.

Thierry Henry is also fighting to be fit for the season's showpiece after picking up a ligament injury in the 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid last weekend.

"We have suffered many injuries recently and we don't have a huge squad, but we have some huge players and they will step forward for the important games ahead."

The Iniesta injury scare came on a frustrating night for Guardiola as Barcelona let a two-goal lead slip in the closing stages and missed out on sealing the title in front of their own fans.

Abidal was sent off for the second time in a week and the France full-back could now miss both of the club's finals through suspension. Barca were on course to secure the Primera Liga title, leading 3-1 with 12 minutes to go, before Abidal barged over visiting striker Nihat Kahveci in the area and Matias Fernandez scored from the penalty.

The dismissal sparked a fightback from their opponents and Villarreal in the final minute to level.

Barca need one more point for the title from their three remaining games.

Abidal, Alves and United's Darren Fletcher, who was sent off in the semi-final win over Arsenal, will all discover today if their appeals against their suspensions for the Rome final will be lifted.

Fletcher played a star role in yesterday's 2-0 win over Manchester City, a result that took the Premier League leaders another step towards retaining their crown.

However, the victory at Old Trafford was marred by two shows of petulance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

The Argentinian made a gesture to the club's board after scoring for their refusal to offer him a permanent deal and Ronaldo lost his temper after being substituted.

Tevez went public yesterday in a newspaper interview and claimed he was resigned to leaving Old Trafford at the end of his two-year-loan deal.

United will have to pay £32million to his owners if they want to sign him permanently. Sir Alex Ferguson refused to discuss Tevez's future after the Argentina striker's goal left his club on the brink of the title, they now only need four points from their remaining three matches.

The South American celebrated his 14th goal of the season by running to the main stand, close to where Ferguson was seated, and cupping his ears as the crowd chanted: "Fergie, Fergie sign him up."

The United boss insisted he had no problem with the way Tevez celebrated but asked when there would be clarification about the South American's future, Ferguson replied: "Nothing has changed. He's a Manchester United player. The fans love him because they love triers.

"When players try then fans will always take to that. As long as he keeps scoring, I'll have no problems with that."

Following Liverpool's victory over West Ham on Saturday, Ronaldo set United on their way back to the summit by opening the scoring with another spectacular free-kick before Tevez's close-range effort on the stroke of half time.

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