Barca coach Tito Vilanova has more than one reason to beat his cancer again. Tito has two young children, Adrià and Carlota and has vowed to beat the cancer for them.
Tito Vilanova’s only interview about his cancer fight was screened just last Sunday – a few days before he visited Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona for a check up only to be told of a relapse.
The interview with Tito was filmed last year in September and spoke about his illness to help raise money for a charity. Tito, 44, was visibly moved as he spoke about leaving his children, Adrià and Carlota without a father.
Tito said in the interview: “When they told me what I had it was a very tough moment and I thought of my children more than of myself.
“I felt they needed me still as they were only 14 and 17 years of age.
“They say I have been very strong. But I don’t know if I could have withstood this if I wasn’t the one who was ill but instead it was my children or my wife.”
The Barca coach underwent an operation operation on his parotid gland last November.
Coach Tito Vilanova also remembered the day he was told the news that he had cancer for the first time — he was Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man at the Nou Camp.
Tito said: “I went to get the results of my tests and when I entered the doctor’s offices I saw my wife Montse, Pep Guardiola and his wife Cris along with the Barcelona doctors.
“Seeing so many people I thought ‘Hmm, it must be really bad’. But I’m a positive person and immediately told myself, if there’s no solution ‘bad luck’. If there is, we should get on with it and look for the best team.
“At the start we thought of having treatment outside of Spain because it was a complicated operation.
“I asked to speak to Doctor Coro Bescós and she assured me she could do it, so I told her ‘done — and there’s nothing more to say’.
“She transmitted so much confidence that I went into surgery like someone goes to a bar to drink a coffee.
“When I awoke I felt very happy.
“I had to have radiotherapy and chemo but I was back at work in a couple of weeks and felt very much loved. To avoid putting pressure on the doctor I didn’t want anyone from the club nor my closest colleagues to find out until after I had the operation.”
The coach went on: “It was like someone who returns home tired and slumps on the sofa without any strength or desire to do anything until his house is on fire and he grabs everything he can to run away.
“I’ve been running since and it’s like two or three years have passed.
“You should never get nervous about anything. What today seems important tomorrow isn’t so any more.
“Nothing is sufficiently important in our work, all that matters is to be well.”
When Vilanova took over from the all-conquering Guardiola in the summer many said it was an impossible task.
Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona
Tito Vilanova took over from Barca legend Pep Guardiola last year and has guided his team to the best ever Barca start in the history of the club with an amazing 15 wins and one draw in 16 outings. Atletico Madrid stand 9 points behind them and last season’s La Liga winners Real Madrid stand an amazing 13 points behind the Catalan side.
Tito undergoes this morning at the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona another operation to remove a small tumour. Tito is in our prayers and we are sure he will come out of this particular fight victorious.
wish you a speedy recovery. we the fan eagerly waiting for your return
Safetory Tito and I wish you a quick recovery.