Many have noted that Barcelona has not been in its top form over the last month. The team suffered two straight defeats to rival Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey and Spanish league and even lost a big game against Milan in the first leg of the Champions league round of 16. Most felt that the team has started to stale and its playing style was losing its effectiveness. Most attributed this disintegration to the absence of Coach Tito Vilanova.
Since late 2012, the coach had been undergoing chemotherapy for a throat tumor and the training and tactical duties were given to assistant Jordi Roura. Now, Vilanova is reportedly ready to return to the squad and will be on the sidelines for Barcelona's first leg match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions league 2013 quarterfinals.
Vilanova ran his first practice on Friday and Roura assured the media that the transition would be slow to help the coach adjust. "Tito will come back on board little by little, depending on how he feels. This Friday he will be in charge of the training session. More than likely, he will go to Paris, but we´ll just have to see how it goes", he explained earlier this week. According to Goal.com, he is unlikely to resume his managerial duties in the match.
The team will also get Xavi back in the lineup for the tilt after the midfielder suffered from a hamstring injury.
The players that traveled with the team to Paris include Victor Valdes, Pinto, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez, David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, Thiago, Javier Mascherano, Bartra, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Montoya, Abidal, Alex Song, Christian Tello, Oier, and Deulofeu.