Spanish champion Barcelona is working on a Plan
B in case coach Tito Vilanova does not completely recover from throat
cancer, according to the Marca sports paper.
Vilanova, 44, has been suffering from Parotid gland cancer since 2011, and has undergone two operations.
He said on Saturday that he felt strong enough to continue next season, but also said he would have to return to the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer centre in New York for treatment this week, and possibly again in the next few months.
Vilanova spent eight weeks at the centre between January and March, receiving intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
In his absence, assistant coach Jordi Roura took temporary charge, but club president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta do not want to repeat this solution.
Marca claims that the two directors will ask Vilanova for a complete analysis of his health situation after he returns to work on 25 May, and then make a decision accordingly.
Marca also claims that Barca has already contacted Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini regarding his availability, only to be told that he is considering a lucrative offer from Manchester City.
The other candidates to step in if Vilanova cannot continue, according to Marca, are Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund and Marcelo Bielsa of Athletic Bilbao, plus former Barca players and assistant coaches Luis Enrique and Oscar Garcia.
Vilanova was the assistant to Pep Guardiola from 2008 to 2012, then was promoted to head coach a year ago when Guardiola - who recently signed for Bayern Munich - decided to step down.
Vilanova guided Barca to the Spanish title this season, despite his cancer, but lost in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and Spanish cup.
He said on Saturday that he felt strong enough to continue next season, but also said he would have to return to the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer centre in New York for treatment this week, and possibly again in the next few months.
Vilanova spent eight weeks at the centre between January and March, receiving intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
In his absence, assistant coach Jordi Roura took temporary charge, but club president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta do not want to repeat this solution.
Marca claims that the two directors will ask Vilanova for a complete analysis of his health situation after he returns to work on 25 May, and then make a decision accordingly.
Marca also claims that Barca has already contacted Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini regarding his availability, only to be told that he is considering a lucrative offer from Manchester City.
The other candidates to step in if Vilanova cannot continue, according to Marca, are Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund and Marcelo Bielsa of Athletic Bilbao, plus former Barca players and assistant coaches Luis Enrique and Oscar Garcia.
Vilanova was the assistant to Pep Guardiola from 2008 to 2012, then was promoted to head coach a year ago when Guardiola - who recently signed for Bayern Munich - decided to step down.
Vilanova guided Barca to the Spanish title this season, despite his cancer, but lost in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and Spanish cup.
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