Lionel Messi has conceded that where Barcelona did not notice Pep Guardiola’s departure last summer, they felt Tito Vilanova’s absence mid-season.
Vilanova replaced Guardiola as Coach at the end of last season and took La Blaugrana to a record-breaking start to this year’s League season.
However, he missed two months of League action at the start of 2013 to undergo post-operative treatment for a second bout of cancer discovered on one of his salivary glands.
Even with that absence, Barca maintained their lead at the top of the table and were crowned League champions at the weekend.
“I was very happy. It is a League that is very important for the significance of the Spanish League and for the rivals we have faced, like Real Madrid, one of the best in the world,” reflected Messi to Television Azteca today.
“It has not been easy because we went into the season with a change, as Guardiola departed. When Tito arrived it was great because he practically did not change anything.
“But when he was not there we noticed the change, not because [assistant Coach Jordi] Roura or any of the others left were unable to do the same, but because we lacked our head Coach, who had led us from day one…it was not the same.
“A year is very long and to finish it celebrating is very good.”
The League celebrations are tinged with regret that the club were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals after a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich.
“You cannot always win. It has been years that we have been playing the same way and Coach and opposing teams have studied how to play us. But we cannot go crazy because of what happened this year. We cannot change the style of Barcelona because this has always characterised us. There must be calm and we must look to next year.”
The 25-year-old reflected also on what life is like growing up at the Camp Nou, going through La Masia.
“It is often said that Barca is more than a club and this is why. When someone comes here they grow not only in their football but as a person, which I think is even more important.
“I arrived when I was 13, I have grown up and my life has been more here than in Argentina. I have grown up learning the values conveyed at Barcelona.
“Today I think just about staying at Barcelona until the end. I would like to play in Argentina as I have said before, but in Europe I will not play for another team.”
