Barcelona will continue to be competitive under Vilanova, affirms Guardiola after beating Rayo Vallecano

The 41-year-old is confident that the good times will continue to roll at Camp Nou when he passes the reins onto his assistant, while he also commented on Sunday's resounding win

Pep Guardiola has assured Barcelona fans that the club will continue to enjoy success under coach in-elect Tito Vilanova next season after their 7-0 mauling of Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

The Blaugrana boss announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of the campaign with his assistant being immediately confirmed as his successor, and after the match against Rayo Vallecano, he stated his belief that the team will only realise their vast potential under his right-hand man.

"This team is young, Tito knows the players well and I'm confident that Barcelona will continue to be competitive [under him]," he told the press.

"I'm grateful for all the praise in response to my departure, although I didn't pass away. I'll still be around."

Guardiola then reacted to the goal celebration initiated by Thiago Alcantara and Dani Alves in the aftermath of the fifth goal scored by Barca, and apologised for the incident which some Rayo fans took offence to.

"We, as a club, apologise for the celebration, as it did not reflect the attitude of Barca players. It won't happen again," he said.

However, the former Spain midfielder ended on a positive note, as he was full of praise for second-string goalkeeper Jose Pinto and winger Pedro, who made an emphatic return to form with a double against the Liga strugglers, as well as a further two assists to his name.

"If Pinto doesn't get injured, he'll play in the Copa del Rey final," he continued. "He helped us to get to the final for the third time in four years."

"I am also very happy with Pedro's performance. He is one of my favourite players as we started out together in the fourth division."

Barcelona remain seven points behind Real Madrid at the Liga summit with three matches remaining.

Guardiola denies contact with Chelsea after announcing decision to leave Barcelona

The 41-year-old has dismissed any links with the vacant managerial job at Stamford Bridge and denies ever meeting with the owner or any of his representatives

Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from the vacant Chelsea job after confirming he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

Guardiola’s recent decision to announce his resignation as Barcelona boss has increased speculation that he will take over as manager of the Premier League club next season.

However the Spaniard has confirmed he is not interested in the job as he is to take a break from the game.

"I never met with Roman Abramovich nor any Chelsea representative. I'm not interesting in coaching now," he told reporters.

"My desire is to make other things, maybe sometime in the future I will go back to a bench, but I don't know at the moment.

"I don't have anything to prove, I'm not interested in proving myself abroad and will go away from football at the moment."

Guardiola's apparent non-interest in the job at Stamford Bridge may strengthen current interim boss, Roberto Di Matteo's own claim to the Chelsea hot seat.

Di Matteo has turned Chelsea’s season around as they knocking out Barcelona to reach the Champions League final and also securing a spot in the FA Cup final.

Di Matteo was reportedly only seen as high as third choice in the mind of Abramovich, however, with the Spaniard's recent comments, he may now become one fo the clear favourites.

Stars from around the footballing world salute outgoing Barcelona boss Guardiola

The 41-year-old coach will be taking a break from the game at the end of the season, and pundits and players alike have been lining up to pay tribute to his achievements

After months of speculation, Pep Guardiola announced on Friday that he would indeed be stepping down from his role as Barcelona coach at the end of the season.

Since taking up the reins at Camp Nou four years ago, the Catalans have bewildered their opponents with their sublime brand of passing football, racking up 13 titles in the process.

So, what next for Guardiola? Well, it seems as if he is set to take a well-earned break from the stress and strain of coaching one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Several prominent figures from within the game have already taken to the internet to express their gratitude to the 41-year-old for cultivating one of the finest sides of all time.

"Well done to Guardiola," exclaimed former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Twitter. "Football that I have never seen before! Magic..."

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was next to weigh in, singing the Spaniard's praises but at the same time wondering how on earth he will top what he has achieved in Catalunya.

"We have to thank #Guardiola for the great years of football he gave us with Barcelona. I will take my hat off.

"Difficult to go somewhere else for Pep. It can only go downhill. Or he has to take #Messi with him," he continued.

However, despite his admiration for Guardiola, the former Stamford Bridge idol would not like to see the Spaniard take up residence in London.

"I like Pep as a coach but I want #RDM as coach for CHELSEA."

It wasn't long before the men who had served under Pep began to post their own online tributes to their departing boss.

"Thanks so much for everything, Pep. You've taught us the way. A huge hug," Blaugrana skipper Carles Puyol announced.

Soon after, Puyol's central defensive partner Gerard Pique left a similar message to Guardiola on his own Twitter account.

"Thanks a lot Pep for giving us so much ... Four years full of victories, happy times, and above all, lessons in football."

Thiago Alcantara, who rose through the Barcelona ranks and made his mark in first team under Guardiola, was next to express his gratitude towards his coach.

"You reached the summit of football and you'll stay there forever. We're eternally grateful. THANK YOU PEP!" the Spain international wrote.

Cesc Fabregas had always been vocal in his admiration for Guardiola, and he too heaped praise on his boyhood hero, but added that he was looking forward to working closely with new coach Tito Vilanova.

"Although we've only been together for one year, it feels as though it has been much longer. Pep, my childhood idol, and my inspiration as coach. Thanks for the time we've spent together, I'll value it forever.

"For Tito, I wish the best in this new opportunity that football has given to him. We were together when I was a kid, and he is not just a great person but also an excellent manager."

Andres Iniesta, meanwhile, logged into Facebook to comment on an old photo of a jovial Guardiola giving him some sage advice during a training session.

"Today our manager has given us the news and just I want to give thanks to him and his team for these years," the midfielder stated. "But we cannot forget that season is still in active."

Indeed, Barca's players will be hoping to give their outgoing coach the send-off he deserves by prolonging the Liga title race for as long as possible and beating Athletic Bilbao in next month's Copa del Rey final to secure Guardiola a 14th title in four wonderful seasons.

Del Bosque: I understand Guardiola's decision to leave Barcelona

The World Cup-winning coach did not wish to question his compatriot's decision, while admitting that he will evaluate Fernando Torres' place in the national team

Spain head coach Vicente Del Bosque has expressed sympathy for Pep Guardiola following his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old coach announced earlier on Friday that he has decided not to prolong his stay at Camp Nou because of the tiring nature of the job, after guiding the club to 13 titles over the last four years.

"Pep has made a decision as a Barcelona man and there is nothing to do but accept what he has done," Del Bosque is quoted by EFE as saying.

"He thinks that this is the best for him and for Barca. I understand him and I wish him the best."

Guardiola's assistant, Tito Vilanova, has been confirmed as Barca's coach for 2012-13, but Del Bosque refused to comment on the appointment.

"I am no one to get involved with decisions that belong to clubs," he noted.

Del Bosque also gave his opinion about the Champions League eliminations of Real Madrid and Barcelona, admitting that they damage the Spain national team ahead of this summer's European Championship.

"I wish both clubs had progressed and played in the final," the 61-year-old said. "They deserved it.

"A return for Fernando Torres? I have time to evaluate his situation and make a decision.

"He is competing against players who have been doing very well, so we will try to be as fair as possible."

Heartbroken Messi unable to bring himself to attend press conference confirming Guardiola's departure

The Argentine has been left devastated by the news that the 41-year-old coach will be leaving Camp Nou at the end of the season and wanted to hide his grief from the press

An emotional Lionel Messi has confessed that he was unable to bring himself to attend the press conference at which Pep Guardiola confirmed his decision to step down as Barcelona boss because he has been left stricken with grief.

Guardiola informed his players that he would be quitting the club at the end of the season before then announcing his imminent departure to the media.

There was some surprise that the Blaugrana's star forward was not in attendance but Messi explained that the occasion would have been too much for him.

"I wholeheartedly want to thank Pep for everything he has given me in my professional career and personal life," the Argentina international wrote on his Facebook page.

"But due to the emotion I feel, I preferred not to be present at Pep's press conference, especially because I knew that they [the press] would have been focusing on the faces of the grieving players and this is something that I did not want to show."

Guardiola, who will be replaced at the helm by current assistant coach Tito Vilanova, has led Barca to 13 titles since taking charge of the club in 2008.

Barcelona set sights on Bielsa as exhausted Guardiola looks set to announce departure

The 41-year-old, who has led the club to 13 titles since taking charge, is seemingly going to leave in the summer and the Catalans will look to replace him with a man he idolises

Barcelona have made Marcelo Bielsa their prime candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola should the Catalan coach decide to leave the club

The former Spain international met with Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Thursday, and informed the pair of his desire to take a sabbatical from the game after four years at the helm of the Catalan giants.

Guardiola, who has led Barca to 13 titles since taking charge in the summer of 2008, is expected to confirm his departure to his players at a team meeting on Friday morning, and it is then believed he will address the media alongside Rosell at a press conference at 11.00CET after a scheduled training session.

Should the 41-year-old officially announce his intention to leave Camp Nou, the club have set their sights on luring Athletic Bilbao boss Bielsa. The Argentine is out of contract in the summer and has the unanimous backing of the Blaugrana board, as well as that of Guardiola, who considers Bielsa the best coach in the game today. Indeed, it is thought that Guardiola may even be asked to attempt to persuade Bielsa to make the move to Catalunya.

In the event that the 56-year-old Rosario native shuns Barcelona's advances and decides to remain at San Mames, the Catalan giants will then seek to appoint someone from within Guardiola's inner circle, namely assistant Tito Vilanova, former B team boss Luis Enrique, who is currently in charge of Roma, or even ex-youth team coach Oscar Garcia.

Failing that, Barca could turn to former Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde, or a foreign alternative, such as Germany's Joachim Low. However, the club's directors do not believe it will come to that as they are confident of landing Bielsa, their prime candidate for the position.

Guardiola informs Barcelona players he will leave club at end of the season

The Spanish boss looks set to announce his departure from the Catalan club to take a sabbatical from football in a press conference scheduled for this afternoon

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has informed his squad that he is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has been at the helm for four years but appears set to take a sabbatical from football after a trophy-laden spell in Catalunya.

Guardiola has won three La Liga and two Champions League titles during his time as Barcelona coach, a post which he inherited from Frank Rijkaard in 2008 after previously leading the club's 'B' team.

However, this year has been his most difficult in charge as his side look to have surrendered their league crown to bitter rivals Real Madrid, after falling seven points behind following last week's 2-1 defeat in El Clasico.

The Catalan outfit were also knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea on Tuesday following a 3-2 semi-final aggregate defeat.

Guardiola: Messi's form doesn't worry me

Pep Guardiola has stressed that he is not concerned about Lionel Messi's form ahead of the second leg of Barcelona's Champions League semi-final tie against Chelsea at Camp Nou on Tuesday evening.

The Argentine was unable to find the back of the net in the 1-0 loss against the Blues last week and in the 2-1 Clasico loss to Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.

Despite the mini drought, Guardiola feels there is no reason to worry ahead of Tuesday's return.

"I never allow myself to be concerned about Messi. Not even if he doesn’t score for 27 matches," Guardiola stated at a press conference.

"I give him tranquillity and the right to not have to score goals until he wants to. He’s scored a brutal amount of goals this season.

"Let him play, be happy and be who he’s always been. His ambition helps us all."

The match at Camp Nou kicks off at 20.45CET.

Guardiola: I have no doubt that Barcelona will defeat Chelsea

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is confident regarding his side's chances of defeating Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final second-leg match at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

The Catalan club must overcome a one-goal deficit to reach the tournament decider after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last week.

In London, Pep Guardiola's side were unable to beat goalkeeper Petr Cech despite enjoying the majority of the possession and having several chances to score, but Guardiola believes that his side will go through.

"We begin with a 1-0 disadvantage and we have 90 minutes to turn it around," he said at Monday's pre-match press conference.

"You have to win over the fans every day, but we know that they are with us. I have no doubt that we will be in Munich, I have been thinking this since the start of the season.

"It is possible that we will have to score three goals. This will be a match similar to the one against Levante and Madrid, because Chelsea are very strong physically and very good on the counter.

"We will have to find a good balance. We will not have many chances to score and we will have to make the few we will have count."

Questioned about the challenge that Tuesday's match will pose to him, Guardiola noted that he is used to such situations.

"I do not know if this will be the biggest challenge since I have been a coach, but I always look at these matches with optimism because of the faith I have in these players," he added.

"We have to be careful with Chelsea's strong points. They have been playing like this for a long time.

"We will have to create chances and score goals. But the hardest thing is to know how to attack against them.

"When we lose the ball, we will have to be covered so that they will not hurt us [on the counterattack]."

Barca head into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Real Madrid, but Guardiola believes the players are ready to bounce back from the loss.

"I have no doubt that the players will be fine," he explained. "If we create the same chances that we did in London, it will be very hard for us not to score again."

The 41-year-old coach then took a swipe at the media for the criticism targeted at his side and particularly at youngster Cristian Tello following the defeat to Madrid.

"If you have to attack me, do not attack Tello," Guardiola said. "You were not nice. Look at the match.

"He played brilliantly and was behind all our chances.

"I have heard most of your criticism and all of you unanimously say that I was wrong, but we had a good match and Madrid had few counterattacks, although it is true that we did not have many chances."

The Barca boss also dismissed the notion that his contract renewal depends on the outcome of Tuesday's match.

"My renewal does not depend on whether or not we reach the final," he insisted. "Now it is not the time to talk about that."