Vilanova responds to the comments from the new Bayern boss.
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has revealed that predecessor and friend Pep Guardiola was not there for him during his rehabilitation from cancer treatment.
New Bayern Munich boss Guardiola slammed Barca for trying to use Vilanova’s illness as a way to attack him, but the Spaniard’s successor has admitted that those accusations were in fact true.
“People aren’t interested in personal matters, but Pep got it wrong and I’m surprised by his comments,” the 44-year-old was quoted in the Independent.
“No-one on the board used my illness to attack him. The club tried to help me as much as possible.
“He visited me once in New York when I’d just arrived, but during my recovery from the operation… I was there for two months and I didn’t see him.
“He’s my friend and I needed him, but he wasn’t there for me. I would have done things differently.”
The surprising feud between Guardiola and Barca continues to rumble on and these new revelations from Vilanova only serve to add further fuel to the fire.
The new man in charge in Catalonia was the former Spain international’s assistant for five years between 2007 and 2012, both with Barcelona B and the senior team.
After winning three La Liga titles, two Copa Del Reys and two Champions Leagues in four years, Vilanova took over from Guardiola when the 42-year-old took his sabbatical year last summer.
The ex-midfielder took his leave to New York to learn German in preparation for the Bayern job, which is also where the Spaniard’s successor was treated for parotid gland cancer.
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