Tito Vilanova spoke to the media on Tuesday in his first press conference of the 2013/14 season, after taking the first training session with the 12 players he has available.
"They are all very keen and did very well. There weren’t many players but the ones that were playing in competitions will be joining us soon. It will be much nicer to see things when the whole team is back", he said, adding that "Messi has come back in spectacular form. He has had more rest than in other years. Playing games over the summer hasn’t affected him because he’s had enough rest and he looked fine to me”.
Great new signing
He also spoke about the arrival of Neymar, saying that he is "very, very happy to have him here with us. Will he have an understanding with Messi? They are two great players. One is the best player in the world, ever, and now we are adding another great player. It won’t be a problem for them to understand each other on the pitch … As teams will now have to keep an eye on one of the two players, the other will get more freedom”, said the Barça manager on the idea of playing them both together, something he’s very optimistic about. “They are two great players, it’ll be perfect” he concluded.
As for any other signings, Tito Vilanova admitted the Brazilian centre back Thiago Silva is "a player we have been wanting to sign for years. But if it’s not him, there are others who could come. The idea is to bring in a centre back.” He suggested that other than a player for that position, there is no immediate need to sign anyone else.
All the best to Thiago
He did admit to a certain sorrow at losing Thiago Alcántara, "because I have a lot of appreciation for him. I asked him to stay. He knew what he was competing against, and whenever he was fit, he always played. But a player can play wherever he wants, and I wish him all the luck in the world, he deserves it”.
Tito Vilanova also spoke about another midfielder, and one he knows was especially desperate to be a success at Barça. That player is Cesc, and Tito confessed that offers have indeed come in for the Catalan, “but he wants to stay here because he wants to triumph here. Fàbregas knows he’s got competition. But he always wanted to triumph here and I’m not worried about it.”
Relations with Guardiola
Tito Vilanova also commented on his worsening relationship with Pep Guardiola and defended the club against his comments.
The former Barca boss declared last week his unhappiness at the Catalans for ‘using Vilanova’s illness to hurt him’, and for ‘not leaving him alone’.
For Barca’s current coach, though, his version of events was not the same.
“People are not interested in personal issues, but Pep was not accurate and I was surprised,” Vilanova said.
"Nobody on the board has used my illness against him. I am delighted by the treatment of the board, they have helped me and are my family, they were concerned about me. We met in New York the first time I went over. When I was there for two months for treatment, I did not see him and it was not my fault. He is my friend and I needed him and he was not there. I would have acted differently. I will not answer any more on this matter. And if I have is it because the other day there was a reference made to me."
The two are believed to have fallen out when Vilanova was offered the job to replace Guardiola, without the latter’s knowledge or consultation.
“I spoke to him and told him my intentions. And when I was offered the role as coach, the first one to encourage me was Pep.
“I have known him for 28 years and he is my friend. With him I won titles and have experienced spectacular moments. I do not believe that it all started at that time.”
Great new signing
He also spoke about the arrival of Neymar, saying that he is "very, very happy to have him here with us. Will he have an understanding with Messi? They are two great players. One is the best player in the world, ever, and now we are adding another great player. It won’t be a problem for them to understand each other on the pitch … As teams will now have to keep an eye on one of the two players, the other will get more freedom”, said the Barça manager on the idea of playing them both together, something he’s very optimistic about. “They are two great players, it’ll be perfect” he concluded.
As for any other signings, Tito Vilanova admitted the Brazilian centre back Thiago Silva is "a player we have been wanting to sign for years. But if it’s not him, there are others who could come. The idea is to bring in a centre back.” He suggested that other than a player for that position, there is no immediate need to sign anyone else.
All the best to Thiago
He did admit to a certain sorrow at losing Thiago Alcántara, "because I have a lot of appreciation for him. I asked him to stay. He knew what he was competing against, and whenever he was fit, he always played. But a player can play wherever he wants, and I wish him all the luck in the world, he deserves it”.
Tito Vilanova also spoke about another midfielder, and one he knows was especially desperate to be a success at Barça. That player is Cesc, and Tito confessed that offers have indeed come in for the Catalan, “but he wants to stay here because he wants to triumph here. Fàbregas knows he’s got competition. But he always wanted to triumph here and I’m not worried about it.”
Relations with Guardiola
Tito Vilanova also commented on his worsening relationship with Pep Guardiola and defended the club against his comments.
The former Barca boss declared last week his unhappiness at the Catalans for ‘using Vilanova’s illness to hurt him’, and for ‘not leaving him alone’.
For Barca’s current coach, though, his version of events was not the same.
“People are not interested in personal issues, but Pep was not accurate and I was surprised,” Vilanova said.
"Nobody on the board has used my illness against him. I am delighted by the treatment of the board, they have helped me and are my family, they were concerned about me. We met in New York the first time I went over. When I was there for two months for treatment, I did not see him and it was not my fault. He is my friend and I needed him and he was not there. I would have acted differently. I will not answer any more on this matter. And if I have is it because the other day there was a reference made to me."
The two are believed to have fallen out when Vilanova was offered the job to replace Guardiola, without the latter’s knowledge or consultation.
“I spoke to him and told him my intentions. And when I was offered the role as coach, the first one to encourage me was Pep.
“I have known him for 28 years and he is my friend. With him I won titles and have experienced spectacular moments. I do not believe that it all started at that time.”
Villanova sounds pained at Guardiola
ReplyDeleteVillanova all is well even in the well
ReplyDeleteUr now a boss.. U dnt need him anymore
ReplyDelete