Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects Sergio Busqu

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects Sergio Busquets to be cleared of using a racial slur and allowed to play in the Champions League final later this month.Busquets risks missing the May 28 match against Manchester United at Wembley after UEFA charged the Spain midfielder with racially insulting Real Madrid defender Marcelo in the semifinal first-leg on April 27.UEFA’s disciplinary panel, which meets on Sunday, could impose a five-game ban on Busquets, who allegedly called Marcelo a “monkey” during the ill-tempered game in Madrid.“Only they know what was said. Barcelona Jerseys But I’ve known Sergio a long time and when he tells me something I believe him,” Guardiola said on Saturday. “I won’t explain what Busquets told me but I believe him and, since I believe him, it means he should play the final.”Guardiola brought Busquets into the first team when he took over at the start of the 2008-09 season. Since then,Dolce & Gabbana Jeans, Busquets has been a regular and helped the club to nine major trophies in nearly three seasons. He also helped Spain win its first World Cup last summer.“I hope he plays it (on May 28) because he is an important player for us and because he deserves to,” Guardiola said.
Madrid appeared to distance itself from the allegations as it said in a statement on its website that it did not include Busquets in its original complaint to UEFA after the game.Soccer Jerseys From ChinaGuardiola said his team should reach the final in perfect playing condition after clinching its third straight league title on Wednesday. He said Lionel Messi will have “some” play in the last two games against Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga as the Argentina forward looks to add to his tally of 52 goals.“I’m happy for the players,” Guardiola said, a day after the team celebrated its 21st domestic cup with fans at the Camp Nou following an open top bus tour through the city. “I’m happy, satisfied that we won the most important title of the season.”Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.“I prefer to reach the final rested, even if Manchester scores four or five against us, this is better,” said Guardiola, a member of the “Dream Team” which won Barcelona its first of three European Cups at Wembley in 1992. Two years later it lost 4-0 to AC Milan in Athens, only four days after winning the league.“We’ve got time to celebrate, to disconnect and to prepare calmly. The players will get to that game in good shape because they know it’s a Champions League final,” Guardiola said.