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Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova says Pep Guardiola wasn't there when he needed him during cancer treatment

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Rob Parker
 @ July 17th, 2013

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has criticised Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola for not visiting him during his cancer treatment.

Vilanova, Guardiola’s former assistant at Barca, said his old boss was not there for him when he needed him.

He travelled to New York for lengthy treatment and rehab but was not visited by Guardiola, despite the fact that the new Bayern manager was living in NYC for a year.

Vilanova said: “It is true that Pep (Guardiola) visited me when I first went to New York City for a two-day visit with the doctors.

“But then I came back to do the treatment and have surgery and I stayed two months. Maybe he thought it was better for us not to meet. And during that time we didn’t meet. And it wasn’t because I didn’t want to. He is my friend and I needed him.

“If I was in his position I would have certainly reacted differently.”

Guardiola had recently criticised Barcelona for using Vilanova’s illness against him.

He said: Barcelona] have crossed the line. To use Tito Vilanova’s illness to hurt me is something that I will not forget.

“I saw Tito when he was in New York and if I have not seen him then it was because it was not possible, but not on my part.

“Do I have to justify that I want things to go wrong for someone who I have had for so long beside me as a colleague? This is in bad taste.”

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