Rosell: "What Guardiola said was untrue"

Speaking in an interview with Catalan TV channel '8tv', Sandro Rosell rubbished Josep Guardiola's recent claims that the Barça top brass had used Tito Vilanova's illness to hurt him. "What he said about the board is completely untrue", Rosell stated.

"We were all shocked by his comments. You can check the records if you want to see what we've said about the best coach in the club's history", the Barcelona president argued.

"I'm surprised by his comments, because when you make an accusation, you have to back it up. We would never use Tito's illness, that's what I don't understand", he added.

"I don't know what Guardiola meant when he said we should leave him alone", Rosell added. "After he left the Camp Nou, we didn't speak again until the day I congratulated him on signing for Bayern", he claimed.

The 'Azulgranas' supremo also rued the impact the controversy was having on the club's image: "This commotion isn't good for Barça, but it shouldn't tarnish his extraordinary time at the club and his achievement of winning so many trophies with home-grown lads".

"I call on the Barça supporters to learn from the past and remember what happened during Johan's time, when the club was split into pro-Cruyff and anti-Cruyff camps. I don't want there to be pro-Guardiola fans and anti-Guardiola fans. I want all Barça members to continue to admire Guardiola as a living Barcelona legend".