Guardiola to leave Barca

[Adi]

'Guardiola to leave Barca'

Pep Guardiola is set to part company with Barcelona at the end of the season, according to reports on Thursday evening. A press conference is scheduled for Friday.

Oh, oh... could this be the end of the Barca we know?  Will he take a break?  Will he sign for Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool?

 

[Golo-2the-mejic]

I think he'll probably go to either Chelsea or City, that is if Mancini doesn't win the PL. Ferguson will be at United for a little while more so I don't think he'll go there, Tottenham is another possibility maybe, but I doubt it.

Anyway, it's gonna be interesting to see how he does with a different team.

[Adi]

Yeah, the true test for him.  Was he the man that made Barca tick or was it Messi?  I guess we'll find out soon.  I tend to give Pep a lot of credit.  I think he gave them a great tactical foundation.

It won't be easy to get an English team to play like Barca though... only Arsenal, Man U, and Tottenham can be molded if you ask me.  Then again, he could be a flexible manager that's able to adapt his own style to suit his team.

On the other hand, Mancini better not win the league.  He's a sorry excuse for a "top" manager.

[Adi]

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after four years with the club. His assistant, Tito Vilanova, has been named as his successor.

Anyone know anything about this Tito guy?

President Sandro Rosell introduced the conference by saying: "We have called you today to announce that Pep Guardiola will not continue in charge of the team next season.

"Thank you, Pep, for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned. The thanks from everybody at Barcelona will be eternal for the best manager in the history of the club."

Guardiola, who apologised for the uncertainty over his future in recent months, said his exit was the best thing for all parties.

"I would like you to understand that this is not an easy decision for me, but I would like to explain my reasons for this decision," he said. "I have always wanted short-term contracts. Four years is an eternity as Barca coach.

"In the month of October I announced to the president and to the sporting director that I thought my spell was coming to an end. The main reason I have taken this decision is because four years is many years.

"I have given everything and I have nothing left and need to recharge my batteries. The demands have been great and I have not been able to rest much. I have to recover and the only way I can do that is by distancing myself. Otherwise, we would have ended up damaging each other.

"I know that I'm leaving the best place to work in. I am very satisfied with the result we have achieved. I have had the great privilege of coaching fantastic players. I want to thank them."

Guardiola also dismissed suggestions he could take another job this summer. "Sooner or later I'll take up another coaching job, but not right now," he said.

Following Guardiola's speech, it was announced that Vilanova will take charge of the first-team next season.

Rosell hailed Guardiola's contribution and backed Vilanova to continue Barca's success.

"Pep always takes the best decision for this club," Rosell said. "It was his decision and it's a personal one and an understandable one. We hope to follow the inheritance that Pep leaves us with the best we can. He has made us proud.

"Now we can confirm that Tito Vilanova will be our new coach. This was a decision taken by Andoni Zubizarreta and it has been ratified today by our executive committee.

"Tito and Andoni will now work on next season's planning and I am sure they will do a good job."

Barca have successfully promoted several players from the B team during the Guardiola reign, and sporting director Zubizarreta said the appointment of Vilanova was a continuation of that approach.

"Tito represents the philosophy of the club," Zubizarreta said. "We've always said that if the team needs players, we look at home first. Who do we have here at home? Tito.''

Guardiola believes Vilanova will prove a successful appointment.

"I think the club has taken the best decision possible," Guardiola said. "He is more than capable. The players know him. He will make few changes. He will give the club and these players something that I thought I could no longer give.

"I could have continued but it is not what Barca would have deserved."

[jabarinho]

Tito Vilanova is the guy who got poked in the eye by Mourinho. That is the only thing i know about him. Barcelona like to use their home-grown people before looking outside.

Nothing will change. Barca will still dominate football as long as the current golden generation of players exist. The manager is only a minor issue here. Only a really shitty coach will lose with this team. My granny could manage this barca team.

[Adi]

Tito Vilanova is the guy who got poked in the eye by Mourinho. That is the only thing i know about him. Barcelona like to use their home-grown people before looking outside.

 

Now I know who he is.

I don't think you're giving Pep enough credit.  Top teams struggle because managers put in the wrong tactics.  Happens all the time.

[Marko]

That was expected. Even before the CL game. He won everything he could and he left so the people will remember him as a great trainer. I would like to see him in Milan.

[Adi]

Messi:

"I want to thank Pep with all my heart for everything he has given me in my professional career and personally," the 24-year-old Argentinian said on his Facebook page.

"Because of the emotions I feel I preferred not to be present at Pep's press conference and to stay away from the press because I know they will look for the pain on the players' faces.

"It is something I have decided not to show."

Geniuinly good guys.

[2zef^^]

I dont really care,i want him in a low reputation team to see what he got.

[Kako]

is unfortunate 

[Adi]

Apparently, Messi cried like a little baby when Pep quit.  Poor guy...

[vittoleon]

People give him soo much credit for barcelona's achievements. Give any half decent coach his team and he will get amazing results. Let him prove himself with a team that isnt worth more than the complete belgian division combined.