Messi in Barça squad
ByReuters
Published 15/05/2006 at 13:15 GMT
Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been included in Barcelona's 22-man squad for the Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris despite not playing for more than two months. The 18-year-old trained with the team on Monday but has not been given the a
FOOTBALL 2005-2006 La Liga Barcelona-Alavés Messi celebrates goal
Image credit: Reuters
It is expected that a decision about his inclusion in the team for the final will be made after Barcelona train at the Stade de France on Tuesday.
Messi tore a thigh muscle during the second leg of his side's Champions League knockout tie against Chelsea on March 7.
"The fact that Messi will be with us will make us stronger but we don't know if he will play in the final," Barça midfielder Deco told a news conference at the Nou Camp.
Deco, the only member of the present Barca squad to have won the European Cup after helping Porto lift the trophy in 2004, played down Barcelona's favourites tag.
"There are no favourites for any final and we are going to have to suffer a lot if we want to win it," said the Portugal international.
"We can't say we are the better team and even if we were it wouldn't guarantee us victory. If you don't respect your opponents things can start going wrong."
"(AC) Milan were winning 3-0 last year against Liverpool and ended up losing in the end. We need to be serious, calm and fully concentrated so that we don't make any errors."
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