Joan Laporta: 'Barcelona have panicked'

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed that the Spanish club panicked in appointing Tito Vilanova as the new coach.

Current boss Pep Guardiola will step down from his position at the end of the season, and Laporta has claimed that the Spaniard was not given backing from the club's hierarchy.

"It is a panic decision after not having done more for Guardiola," Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

"Barca are in a cycle of change and Guardiola dared not try do so because he did not have enough support from the board. I have known the board members for many years and they have a different concept of what the club should be."

Barcelona lost out in the La Liga race to rivals Real Madrid this season.