Tito Vilanova starts with new-look staff

The Barça first team is back for the 2012/13 preseason. Tito Vilanova is ready to take centre stage after four years as assistant to Guardiola, and was the main attraction on a Monday on which medical tests were the order of the day. But he is not the only change the players are going to have to get used to, although for the time being, the new faces are all coaches rather than players, as the only new signing, Jordi Alba, is away preparing for the Olympic Games in the UK.

Roura and Altimira, familiar faces

Tito Vilanova’s assistant this season will be Jordi Roura, who has plenty of experience at FC Barcelona, first as a player and later as a member of Guardiola’s staff. Aureli Altimira, who was a fitness coach under Pep Guardiola, is the other person who’ll be working most closely with the new Barça coach.

More incorporations

The departures of goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué and fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura have opened the doors to the first team for José Ramon de la Fuente and Eduard Pons, respectively. Another new arrival is Àlex Garcia, who was coaching Barça youth teams for years and has just returned to the club to join the technical analysis team. Finally, physio Yon Álvarez has been promoted to the first team staff.