( CNN ) -- Barcelona soccer coach Tito Vilanova is recovering in hospital following surgery to remove a regrown cancerous tumor . The Spanish league leaders ' website reported on Thursday that the operation `` went ahead according to schedule . '' `` The manager 's post-surgery recovery will determine his stay at hospital . In line with the patient 's wishes , please respect the privacy and confidentiality of the process , '' the club said . In November 2011 , Vilanova had a tumor removed from his parotid gland -- which is at the back of the mouth -- when he was assistant to his predecessor as Barca boss , Pep Guardiola . That operation was thought to have been a success and when Guardiola went on sabbatical , Vilanova took over as coach of the team -- seemingly in good health , but more cancerous cells have been discovered . Vilanova is expected to be hospitalized for three to four days after his surgery and will then have chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment lasting around six weeks , according to Barca 's website . Club doctors have said he will still be able to work while his treatment takes place and there are no plans for him to step down . His assistant Jordi Roura will take charge for the weekend clash with Valladolid . At a press conference , club president Sandro Rosell said : `` I want to thank everyone for their support on behalf of the team and Tito . We have complete confidence in the team . The club is very strong and very united , we 're capable of overcoming adversity . `` Tito is strong , very strong , he 's shown us that and we 're convinced that he 'll be back with us soon . '' Vilanova had told the Barca website earlier this week : `` Being a head manager is difficult , but being an assistant manager is n't easy either . I would say it 's more difficult to be an assistant manager than it is to be a head manager . '' Under Vilanova 's guidance , Barcelona have been unbeatable in the Spanish league -- dropping just two points -- and hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid , with close rivals Real Madrid 13 points behind the Catalan side . Real responded to the news by expressing their support for Vilanova , in a statement on their official website . They said : `` Real Madrid wish to express their heartfelt support to Barcelona coach , Tito Vilanova , to whom we wish a prompt recovery . Real Madrid extend this support to his club and family . '' Barca also finished top of their European Champions League group , suffering just one defeat in six matches . Key to their success this season has been the number of goals Lionel Messi has scored , with the Argentine netting 25 times during the current campaign and 90 times during the calendar year . As a youngster Vilanova was at Barcelona 's youth academy -- La Masia -- with Guardiola , though unlike the former Barca captain he failed to graduate to the first team . Vilanova went on to play for some of Spanish football 's lesser known clubs -- Figueras , Celta , Badajoz , Mallorca , Lleida , Elche and Gramenet -- before retiring as a player in 2002 and turning to coaching . When the 44-year-old Vilanova was appointed , Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta argued it was `` a logical decision '' because he `` represents the same style of play and the same philosophy . '' `` Tito has been working here with us , so why not Tito ? He puts in all the hours until he sleeps and he has the personality that we need to lift us . He 's different to Pep , but Tito 's the one , '' said Zubizarreta . `` We 've always looked in house . We have Tito -- it 's simple . We need n't go out on the market . '' Between 2008 and 2014 with Guardiola and Vilanova as coach and assistant , the Catalan club won 14 trophies , including two Champions League titles . That recent success has been fostered on a tradition of developing their own players at their youth academy . `` Our style of play is so different from the rest of the teams that it 's just easier to send out a guy that grew up playing our style football , '' said Vilanova . `` These players train their whole lives as Barca players , with the Barca system . If they play for the first team , it 's because we think we can win with them on the pitch . '' Since taking charge of Barca , Vilanova has won 23 of his 27 matches in all competitions , suffering just two defeats .
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova suffers tumor relapse but will stay in post . Vilonova has surgery in Mallorca before starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy . When Vilanova was assistant to Barca between 2008 and 2014 , Vilanova won 14 trophies . Under Vilonova , Barca have won 23 of their 27 matches between 2008 and 2014 .