The Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola says he will know early next week if either Thierry Henry or Andrés Iniesta will be fit enough to start the Champions League final. The early signs from the medical staff were that both would be ready, Henry "by the skin of his teeth", but Guardiola remains cautious over their recovery.

Henry has been sidelined with a ligament problem he picked up in the 6–2 win at Real Madrid earlier this month, while Iniesta injured his thigh in the 3–3 draw with Villarreal two weeks ago. Barcelona are also missing Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal through suspension.

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

"I don't know if Andrés 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."

But Guardiola is confident of winning the game, regardless of who is available. "If they are not fit, somebody else will have a chance," he said.

"There is nothing we can do about it – Dani [Alves], Eric and Rafa [Márquez] are all out, so we're short of players. I would love to have them available, but they are not, so we'll try to go out and win the game with what we've got. We don't have any excuses."

One player definitely available is Lionel Messi, and Guardiola believes his winger is better than the United star Cristiano Ronaldo. "They are two great players but I'll stick with my player – I think he's the best," he said.

Messi himself seems very confident about Barcelona's prospects and insists his side deserve to win after the quality of football they have played this season.