Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova will gradually ease himself back into his job after arriving back in Spain yesterday following two months of cancer treatment in New York, the La Liga club said.

The 44-year-old needed a second round of surgery in December following an initial operation to remove a tumour from his saliva glands in November 2011 and his assistant Jordi Roura took charge while he relocated to the United States for a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Vilanova arrived in Barcelona early yesterday and returned home to rest, Barca said in a statement on their official website (www.fcbarcelona.es).

Roura took charge of yesterday evening’s training session as most of the squad were absent due to the international break. Vilanova would “gradually” rejoin the first team, Barcelona added in their statement.

Barca’s next match is at Celta Vigo on Saturday and they play at Paris St Germain in their Champions League last eight, first leg on April 2.

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