Vilanova to return to Barcelona this week

The Blaugrana have announced on their official website that the coach is set to depart America and come back home in the coming days

Barcelona have revealed that Tito Vilanova will return home this week after spending the past two months in New York recovering from surgery on parotid gland cancer.

The 44-year-old went under the knife on December 20, and then underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for six weeks.

Vilanova left for New York for further treatment in January, and is now ready to return home again after two months in the USA.

Pep Guardiola's former assistant took charge of Barcelona in the summer of 2012 after his mentor decided to leave the club and take a one-year sabbatical, and guided the Blaugrana to their best-ever Liga start before being struck by health issues late in 2012.

Vilanova was replaced by Jordi Roura during his absence, with the latter now returning to his role as assistant coach once more.

Iniesta: We will qualify for Champions League quarter-finals

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is convinced his side can wipe out the 2-0 first-leg loss suffered to AC Milan and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League in next Tuesday's second leg at the Nou Camp.

The Blaugrana produced a lacklustre performance in the first leg at the San Siro, but playmaker Iniesta is confident they have the ability to turn around the tie.

He told reporters at a corporate event: "I would put my hand in the fire for the team, I am confident that we can do it. It was not a good result, but I am 100 per cent convinced that we can turn it around.

"We have to do well and go out as though it's a final. For us it's a final where we need to get a good result to come out alive."

The defeat against Milan, plus two Clasico losses on the trot mean Barcelona are currently on a run of three defeats in four and have been subject to media criticism.

28-year-old Iniesta responded to this criticism, claiming Barcelona deserve respect for their La Liga form. Barca are currently 11 points clear at the top of the table and have scored 83 goals in 26 games.

Iniesta said: "We deserve more respect. What's more in La Liga, we are in an unbeatable position. I wish it was always this way.

"We are concerned because we haven't been good, but the concern should make us stronger and more optimistic to keep doing well."

Barcelona are competing for their third Champions League title in five years following their victories over Manchester United in 2009 and 2011 and have been boosted by news of Tito Vilanova's imminent return to the Nou Camp

Busquets: We miss Vilanova

Sergio Busquets has admitted that Barcelona miss absent boss Tito Vilanova, but says the team plans to give him a lift by overturning the two-goal deficit in next week's the Champions League last-16 return game against AC Milan.

Vilanova, 44, has spent the last two months in New York receiving medical treatment. On Monday, Barca president Sandro Rosell said he would be back at the Camp Nou as soon as possible, but he is not expected to be present for the crunch second leg against Milan on March 12.

With their coach absent, and stand-in Jordi Roura struggling to fill the gap, Barca's form has dipped alarmingly in recent weeks, as the 2-0 European loss at San Siro was followed by two consecutive defeats to rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey [3-1 at home] and La Liga [2-1 away].

Busquets, speaking after being awarded the 2012 Catalan Player of the Year award in Barcelona on Monday night, said Tito's absence was felt by everyone at the club, but they would try to help him by overcoming Milan and qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals.

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"When the boss is not there, everyone misses him," Busquets said. "His absence is noticed and the day-to-day work is more difficult. We all have to give a bit more. [Beating Milan] would be good for him, it would be really positive. But the most important, in the case of Tito or any colleague, is their health."

Barca's players are convinced a comeback against the in-form Serie A side is possible, claimed the former La Masia trainee.

"The players are the first ones who believe in the comeback," he said. "It is clear we are coming from some negative results, but we are the first who think we are going to turn it around, that we have a final to play."

Busquets, 24, said that Barca's current run of poor performances had been badly timed. "The team is the same as always," he said.

"What is clear is that some dips always come along, and ours arrived in two important competitions against two great teams. But we must keep going and correct the errors. I am sure the team will come out of this."

On winning the award, ahead of other nominees including Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Cesc Fabregas, Busquets said that he was happy his work in his unglamorous midfield 'pivote' position was being recognised.

"I am not too used to this," he said. "It is very important for me. Bit by bit my work is being recognised. I am very happy at that."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was named Catalan coach of the year at the gala ceremony in Barcelona, with Espanyol midfielder Sandra Vilanova taking the women's award. Barca B midfielder Sergi Roberto, 21, received the Young Player of the Year prize.