Barca wait on Messi fitness

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is withholding judgement on the fitness of Lionel Messi.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has kept Arsenal guessing after withholding his judgement on the fitness of Lionel Messi, insisting he will only make his mind up about the starlet on the morning of the UEFA Champions League final on Wednesday.

The gifted Argentinian youngster has not played for the Catalans since injuring his thigh against Chelsea in March, but reports indicated he had received a clean bill of health ahead of the showdown in Paris.

With the World Cup finals fast approaching Barcelona may be unlikely to take a risk on the magical 18-year-old, but he is a key performer for the Liga champions despite his tender age.

Rijkaard has now insisted that he has still not decided what part, if any, Messi will play against The Gunners.

"The whole team is in good shape and Messi will join in training and we'll make a decision on the final 18 tomorrow," said Rijkaard.

"We are all happy that Messi is recovering and so is he but we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see."

Rijkaard also denied that the experience of overcoming Chelsea earlier in the competition would put his side at any advantage in Paris, as he attempted to play down the tag of favourites.

"Playing a final is always a unique occasion so I don't think you can compare Arsenal and Chelsea," Rijkaard added.

"What is true is that they are both strong teams but the past games won't have an influence.

"I don't believe in psychological advantage, it's dangerous to think you have it. Our concern should be to play the way we always do.

"I think Arsenal have hit form at the right moment and the results they have achieved have given them more confidence.

"In all their games they have only conceded two goals, so they are a great team but that is what makes the final so special.

"To think that we are favourites to win would be a great error.

"Everything starts with being humble and we know we have to go for them from the first minute."

The final has been billed as a showdown between Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho, but the Barca coach says he has not devised a change of tactics to cope with the Gunners captain.

"Henry is a great player. But we cannot change everything for just one player."

One note of controversy before the tie has been the row over assistant referee Ole Hermann Borgan after he was pictured in a Barcelona shirt, but Rijkaard has played down the significance of the incident.

"Arsenal should give him a shirt straight away and take a photo, then we will be levelled.

"I really don't think it makes any difference, as far as I know he was on holiday."