Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova will return home this week after two months of treatment in New York for a parotid gland tumor that was discovered during a routine examination inDecember. Barca announced on its Web site that the 44-year-old will return to the city but did not say when he would return as head coach. Jordi Roura, Vilanova’s assistant, hadbeen acting as coach in his absence.
“FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova will return home this week,” the statement said. “He left on Jan. 21 to undergo a part of his medical treatment in NewYork, and this week will leave that city of skyscrapers to return to the Catalan capital. During his absence, Jordi Roura has taken the reins of the team, always being in contact with Vilanova to geta consensus on all decisions. His seat on the first team bench was always reserved. Barca is getting its leader back. Welcome home, Tito.”
Barca’s next two games are away to CeltaVigo in La Liga on Saturday and then away to Paris St. Germain in the UEFA Champions League next Tuesday.