Vilanova hopes for change after tough year

Posted Wednesday, May 08, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova remarked that it has been a turbulent year for the Blaugrana and he expects improvement in the coming season.

The side defeated Real Betis on Sunday night in their La Liga fixture and now need just one more win to wrap up their 22nd La Liga title.

They were made to work for the 4-2 win at the Nou Camp with Lionel Messi coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute to score the final decisive two goals of the game.

Vilanova reflected on the result as well as a season that has seen them impress on their way to winning the league while also exiting the Champions League in a humiliating fashion to Bayern Munich. Furthermore, injuries to Lionel Messi have dominated the agenda in recent months and the club have been exposed for their overreliance on their star marksman.

The Spaniard believes that all the events that transpired over the course of his first year in charge will ultimately help Barcelona grow and he promised changes next season.

"One must improve and be self-critical. It's been a tough year for injuries. The coach has not been around for over two months and it's not been easy," he told reporters after the Betis game.

"Next year, we'll do things differently, but it is normal because it is only my first year. If we had not managed [Lionel] Messi's injury well, he would not have reached the same match against Betis to help.

"We needed tranquility and this was the game to find it. The players were convinced too and to concede a goal in just the second minute is not easy, but we showed character.

"Especially when they [Betis] score a second before the break. It was a matter of not losing our heads.

"Our consistency in the league has been demonstrated. Madrid have been outstanding during the second half [of the season], so we must add two points next week because Madrid will not drop any more."

Barcelona next face Atlético Madrid but they could win the league before the start of that game if Real Madrid fail to win their upcoming games against Malaga and Espanyol.