Messi was NOT injured!... Says Tito Vilanova

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova confirmed after his side's 7-0 aggregate Champions League semi-final loss to Bayern Munich that star forward Lionel Messi was not injured but did not feature in the second leg for fear of picking up a knock.

Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern prevailed 3-0 at the Nou Camp yesterday evening to seal an emphatic 7-0 aggregate triumph over the Catalan club and set up an all-German Wembley final against Borussia Dortmund on May 25.

Leading 4-0 from the first leg, the Bavarians were similarly clinical in Catalunya with second-half goals from Arjen Robben, Gerard Pique - who put through his own net - and Thomas Muller sealing a one-sided win over a sorry Barca side for whom Messi was an unused substitute.

'Messi felt good against Athletic Bilbao (on Saturday), but in the final minutes of the game at San Mames he noticed a strange feeling,' Vilanova said of the four-time reigning world player of the year.

'He's not injured, but he felt he could pick up an injury.

'Yesterday he trained, and also today... but he did not feel well. He's an explosive player and he could break. So, maybe he could not help the team.' Vilanova, speaking at his post-match press conference, acknowledged the tie had been lost in Bavaria last Tuesday.

'To lose, that can pass, but to lose 3-0 at home and 7-0 overall... It is clear this is not the tie we wanted," he said "If we had arrived at 100 hundred per cent, it could have been different. I believe the first leg weighed heavily on us. I do not want to recall how they got those goals.'

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes acknowledged that the absence of Argentina forward Messi had had an effect but felt it should not detract from his side's achievement.

He said on German television channel ZDF: 'Messi's (absence) surprised us and, even though it's clear that we've had an excellent game, you need to accept that Barcelona are one thing with Messi another without Messi. 'If we look at the whole tie, we've won 7-0. That couldn't be more clear and now we have to enjoy it.'