Barcelona's new coach Tito Vilanova says he is looking to “win everything” this season as he replaces Pep Guardiola, who stepped down after a trophyless campaign.
“I hope to win everything. I think we have a sufficiently strong team to win every game,” Vilanova told reporters ahead of his side's opening match Sunday against Real Sociedad.
Vilanova, who steps up having been assistant to Guardiola, will have to go some to match his mentor, who delivered 14 trophies in four years in charge- including two Champions Leagues.
It will be “very difficult for me” to reach his lofty goals, Vilanova admitted. But “it would have been for any coach who had come in - and for Pep, had he stayed”.
Vilanova insisted he did not feel under pressure to match his predecessor's achievements. “I do not feel under pressure from that, I am calm - that's how I am,” he said.
“I have the same feeling I had when I was an assistant - I want to win.”
Vilanova stressed he would not be carrying out root and branch reform of a team led by the effervescent Lionel Messi and which will welcome back striker David Villa after eight months out through injury - though he may not be ready for Sunday's opener.
“It's clear we will try to maintain continuity when it comes to our way of playing,” he explained, adding that Villa would be brought back slowly as he builds up his match fitness. – AFP