Vilanova nears Spain return

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said Tito Vilanova will return soon from New York, after receiving cancer treatment.

The 44-year-old has suffered a recurrence of the illness in December, and has been absent from the bench for the majority of 2013, leaving his assistant Jordi Roura in charge.

“Tito is about to return, and this is very good news,” the former Blaugrana goalkeeper told Canal+.

“It seems that he has finished the things that he had to do in New York. He will decide when he is ready.”

Roura joined Zubizarreta in expressing the hope that Vilanova will be back at the helm as soon as possible.

“I said I hope this is my last game… because that will mean that Tito is back,” the 45-year-old told reporters.

“I don’t want to evaluate this bracket of time (during which Vilanova has been absent). The team we have created is a joint effort – I won’t take any plaudits for what’s happened while I’ve been in charge.

“Evaluations of the team should be left till the end of the season,” he added.