Barcelona suffer injury setback

Barcelona play maker, Andres Iniesta, picked up a thigh injury in the club’s 3-3 draw with Villarreal yesterday that could see him miss the Champions League final against Manchester United.

Iniesta has been arguably Barcelona’s most influential player in recent seasons and the injury is a massive blow to the club and their trophy bids. Barcelona’s manager, Pep Guardiola, admitted that losing such a key player would be a huge blow to the club ahead of the biggest game of their season.

Guardiola said in the Spanish media today: “Losing Iniesta through injury is worse than not having won the title on Sunday. He is definitely out of the cup final but I hope he will be in Rome.”

“Anyway, it is part of the game. You have to take risks. Another player will replace him. We will fight to win and could use players from the academy.”

It must be remembered that Iniesta is the reason that Barca are in the Champions League final. His brilliant precision and accuracy to score the goal against Chelsea last week, which sent them through, was something only he could produce.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that he does not face up against his side as it will give United one less headache to worry about and no doubt it will provide some space and opportunity in the midfield during the final, which United would otherwise not have.

The reason Iniesta is so important to the Barcelona side is that he has the ability to make everyone else on the pitch look like a world-beater. He creates space and brings players into the game. Pundits speaking after Barca’s win over Chelsea said he was even better on the ball than Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi.

These are not easy comments to attract and prove why Iniesta is so highly rated at the top level. It must also not be forgotten that he was in the heart of a Spain side that cantered to European glory last year.

Every single football neutral will want to see the best players picked for the Champions League final on May 27 so for Barca what they have to do is quite simple. They have to wrap Iniesta in cotton wool for the next couple of weeks while continuing to keep him motivated.

His come back could come at exactly the right time for Barca and no doubt they will want to unleash him for another final and hope that he replicates his performance in a similar manner to the one that was too good for Arsenal in 2006.

Barca can think themselves lucky that the injury was not a lot more serious and providing there is no internal or muscle damage and the blow to Iniesta’s right thigh was just this then a dead leg can easily be over come. Even though United will be hoping it is a lot more serious, in the back of Fergie’s mind he will want the Spaniard to get fit, as he will want to beat Barca’s best team.