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Messi in Barcelona squad
15/05/2006 16:06 - (SA)
Madrid - 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 all-clear to play by club medical staff.
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," Barca
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."
- Reuters
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