Guardiola: I will rest for a year and then see what happens

Posted Saturday, May 12, 2012 by Goal.com

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will take a one-year sabbatical at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old announced last month that will leave Barca in June after four successful years in charge of the club because of the exhausting nature of the job.

"I will rest for a year and then we will see," he told reporters. "I do not have any plans, not even plans to coach again.

"I will do something, but you will not be seeing me that much."

Guardiola then heaped praise on assistant coach Tito Vilanova, who will replace him at the helm in the summer.

"It is very hard to say if we will work together in the future," he noted. "He gave everyone a lesson in bravery and courage when he decided to take over the team.

"I hope Tito will be here for a long time, that would be a sign that things had gone well.

"I learned that Tito would replace me the same day of the press conference in which I announced that I was leaving."

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has cast doubt over David Villa's chances of making the Spain squad for Euro 2012, but Guardiola has suggested that the striker could be fit for this summer's showpiece.

"His recovery is going very well and according to schedule," he explained. "The doctors and himself set the possibility of playing at the Euros.

"It will also depend on Del Bosque, he is the one who will decide."

Guardiola also commented on the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, saying that he anticipates a tough match against the Basque side.

"We will meet a very demanding Athletic," the Spanish coach noted. "They were the surprise package in Europe.

"They will be a very tough side to beat, even more so now, as they will try to bounce back from their Europa League disappointment."