Guardiola concerned by lack of options

Friday 22 May 2009 05:53 EDT
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(REUTERS)

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola fears a lack of options could hinder their chances of overcoming Manchester United in next week's Champions League Final.

Barca are sweating on the fitness of attacking duo Thierry Henry (back) and Andres Iniesta (thigh) ahead of the Rome showpiece, while full-backs Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves will miss out through suspension and Rafa Marquez has been ruled out with a knee injury.

"I don't have a lot of options," conceded Guardiola. "I don't even have a lot of options for the league game against Osasuna on Saturday.

"I don't know if Andres and Titi (Henry) will make it in time - we'll see on Monday or Tuesday.

"They have faith and the will to be there but it depends on their muscles as well.

"If they are not fit, somebody else will have a chance. There is nothing we can do about it."

Meanwhile, Guardiola is honoured to be going up against United veteran Sir Alex Ferguson in the biggest game in European club football in only his first season as a coach.

"I have a lot of respect for him, I'm so proud for us to be here and come up against his team," he added.

"His career is amazing - he has won trophies and had to build a new team and then won again and again.

"I will try to learn from him. It's a proud moment for me to be there playing against him and a huge team like Manchester United."

Elsewhere, modest Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero insists he is not yet as good as Manchester United’s Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

The Argentina international was hailed as one of football’s most promising players last year but accepts that his form has slumped in the second half of this season.

He told Onda Cero: "I still have many things to learn. I am not at the same level as players like Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

"When Fernando Torres left Atletico for Liverpool two years ago he was the main player here and all the responsibility was on his shoulders.

“Now, the team has Diego Forlan, Maxi Rodriguez and Simao as well as me and we all carry the weight.”

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