"I feel fine. I did exactly what the doctors and physios had told me. Hopefully there will be enough time before we go to Paris to prove I'm ready for the final. It would be wonderful to do that.".

"I don't want to say when I'll be back. The last time, I played before I was really ready and that taught me to be patient and listen to what the doctors tell me. I just want to be fit as soon as possible, but it's true that it would be my dream to be there at the final in Paris. It's been terrible missing these last few games, but I really only want to be back to finish the season with the team."

But the club's medical staff are rather more pessimistic, rating his chances of playing in Paris at only 2 per cent, and saying that, "There are no miracles with this type of injury.... If he's in too much of a hurry, he'll miss the World Cup."

But another midfielder Xavi Hernandez made his return from injury at the weekend, coming on as an 80th minute sub for Deco. "That was an unforgettable night. I've never received a reception like that before and it was great to feel useful again for the team and as a footballer. It was like starting the season all over again."

Barca boss Frank Rijkaard says that Xavi is an influential figure on and off the field.

Barcelona can clinch the Spanish league tonight with a win over 5th placed Celta Vigo this evening, or if Valencia fail to beat Real Mallorca. They'll be keen to get it over with, as there are 3 more La Liga games for them after this one, including a postponed game against Sevilla, which probably won't be played until the Saturday after the final. But if they don't manage an away win tonight, Barca can do it in their last home game on Sunday, against Espanyol.

For latest Arsenal injury news, see today's Man City preview.