Hleb: "I Heard It Crunch..."

Alex Hleb has decided that he will not have surgery before the Champions League final...

"The possibility of surgery was discussed but because of the final, we have decided to stick to a week of rest, massage and physiotherapy," he told Pressball newspaper.

"When I showed the knee to the doctor, he said there was a danger of cartilage damage, but it turns out that the meniscus is okay but other parts of the knee are damaged. The knee is obviously sore.

"Early in the match, I took a blow to the knee - I heard it crunch and thought I might have to be substituted. But the pain died down, I felt better and played the full 90 minutes. Maybe because I had taken painkillers before the game for a bruised leg."