Football: Vilanova greets players after operation

Barca are 16 points ahead of Real Madrid and nine points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid in league.

MADRID:
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova visited team players at their training ground yesterday, less than two weeks after he had cancer surgery, according to the club.

The visit raised hopes that Vilanova, 44, may soon return to work with the team, which is flying nine points clear at the top of the Spanish league.


“He came to the Ciudad Deportiva and greeted the players who trained there this morning,” Barcelona said in a statement, referring to the club’s training ground. Vilanova faces six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the club’s president Sandro Rosell said Friday the coach could be back at work in less than three weeks.

Unbeaten with 16 wins and one draw, Barca are 16 points ahead of Real Madrid and nine points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid in the league. Their next game is a city derby against Espanyol on January 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.
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