Barca coach has operation

Barcelona's assistant manager Tito Vilanova has successfully undergone surgery on a salivary gland in his neck.

Assistant manager Vilanova will miss trip to Milan after surgery on a salivary gland in his neck

Barcelona's assistant manager Tito Vilanova has successfully undergone surgery on a salivary gland in his neck. He has not travelled with the side to Milan for their UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday and had tried to keep the operation secret. Pep Guardiola was also keen to keep the surgery quiet and only told the players and staff when the team gathered at the airport to travel to Italy. However Spanish website, Sport, is reporting that the shock news has affected some of the players. It is believed doctors operated on Vilanova's Parotid gland. No reasons for the operation have been made public however the procedure is commonly carried out to remove tumours, chronic infection or a blockage. Barcelona's technical secretary told reporters in Milan that the players want to win the game for their coach. He said: "We want to dedicate the victory to Tito Vilanova."