'Barça are favourites'

ByEurosport

Published 16/05/2006 at 07:48 GMT

Arsenal star Thierry Henry has declared Barcelona favourites for Wednesday's Champions League final. Henry has already helped see off Spain's Real Madrid and Villarreal on the way to Paris, but admitted the Liga champions start with an advantage. Follow t

"They are the best team in the world at the moment, in terms of their game and the brilliant players they've got," said Henry. "And they've managed to remain a team, even if they have got superb individuals."

With Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o in their ranks, Barcelona's attacking style has seen them plunder more goals in this season's Champions League than any other.

But Arsene Wenger's side have not conceded a goal in ten consecutive European games - a tournament record - and after already having seen off two Spanish teams and Serie A champions Juventus on their road to the final, Henry insists the Premiership club can triumph.

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FOOTBALL Champions League 2005/2006 Real Madrid Arsenal Ronaldo Henry

Image credit: Imago

"We realised we had a chance of winning it after the victory in Madrid," said Henry. "After that, nobody thought we would knock out Juventus. Villarreal was a difficult game. The Champions League would cap it all off - the best thing of all would be to lift the cup."

FUTURE STILL UNCLEAR

Born within touching distance of the French capital, Henry is desperate to perform at the Stade de France and bring a first-ever European Cup to the English side.

But speculation is rife the 28-year-old will reject a lucrative contract extension at Arsenal to join Barcelona next season after seven years in England, though Henry insists his future has not yet been decided.

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League Arsenal-Juventus Henry

Image credit: Reuters

"Honestly, I haven't even thought about it. We had to catch Spurs to qualify for the Champions League. We did that," said Henry, who has been told by France coach Raymond Domenech to make a decision prior to the start of the World Cup on June 9.

"I'm concentrating on the final at the moment and then I'll be able to take a look at that. But there is not a lot of time before the World Cup, so you'll know soon enough."

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