Tito Vilanova is ready to carry on as Barcelona coach after undergoing cancer treatment, he told a press conference on Friday.
Speaking for the first time since returning from New York where he underwent treatment in January, Vilanova said: "I'm in good shape, I'm full of energy and I want to carry on leading this team next year."
Looking fit and well, Vilanova said defiantly that it was too soon to say that Barcelona were out of the Champions League, despite their 4-0 semi-final first-leg drubbing by Bayern Munich in Germany this week.
"After the return leg, I'm ready to accept the criticism but I'm not prepared to throw in the towel yet. We mustn't say we can't do it, even if it is going to be extremely difficult.
"We've got to do our best to show that what happened the other night was just an accident."
He also dismissed growing talk that Barcelona had reached the end of an era.
"In any cycle, there are highs and lows, that's all," he said.
"You have to remember we've qualified for our sixth Champions League semi-final in six years. And if we win the (Spanish) title this year, it will be our fourth in five years. I don't really think that's the end of an era."
Source: AFP
