Barca vow to stand by Vilanova

The news comes just over a year after Vilanova first had a tumour removed from his throat.

Rosell revealed assistant coach Jordi Roura would take charge of the first team while Vilanova, who took over from Pep Guardiola at the Nou Camp this summer, underwent his treatment.

That decision is set to be made after Thursday's surgery but for now Rosell offered the club's full support for Vilanova and his young family.

Rossell admitted Vilanova had told him of the news yesterday, but tonight's confirmation was delayed until after a meeting with the players.

Speculation in the Spanish press has already linked Guardiola, who left the club to take a year-long sabbatical in the summer, with a return, but sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta denied any contact had been made.

Zubizarreta also expressed his shock at the news, saying: "It was difficult news to hear this morning.

Vilanova has enjoyed a superb start to his tenure in the hotseat, helping Barcelona establish a nine-point lead at the top of the Spanish league standings after winning 15 of their opening 16 games while drawing the other.

Messi deserves Ballon d'Or

Messi has already won the previous three Ballon d'Or awards but Ibrahimovic, who himself was earlier backed to win the award as well, has conceded that Messi fully deserves to win the accolade yet again.

"Messi is the best player in the world, he deserves the Ballon d'Or," Ibrahimovic told BeIn Sport.

"I know he's won it several times but it is deserved. He plays like he's on PlayStation, it's unbelievable. People who say otherwise either don't know anything about football or are just talking nonsense."

The Swede pointed out former Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane as a player he wants to play like, citing the Frenchman's extraordinary playmaking abilities as his inspiration.

"When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the 10 other guys just got suddenly better. It is that simple.

"It was magic. He was a unique player. He was more than good, he came from another planet. His team-mates became like him when he was on the pitch. A player that makes the difference is a player that makes the others better.

"I don't know if we will see others like him. That's my mentality. Make the others better. Because if they are better, I too will be better," he said.

Messi has recently extended his contract with Barcelona and is set to stay at the club until 2016.

Cazorla shines as Arsenal rout Reading

Santi Cazorla helped himself to a hat-trick as Arsenal closed up on the top four of the Barclays Premier League with a 5-2 win at bottom club Reading.

Man United cruise to stay six clear

Robin van Persie's 15th goal of the season ensured Manchester United will spend Christmas Day top of the Premier League after they eased past Sunderland 3-1.

With victory assured, Ferguson felt sufficiently confident about easing Vidic back into the fray.

After only 13 appearances in a 16-month period that included a calf injury and two lots of knee surgery, the 31-year-old desperately needs to stay injury free in order to rediscover his old form.

Evidently, Vidic has plenty of work in front of him too judging by the uncharacteristic mistake that eventually led to United old-boy Campbell heading home from close range.

Gazidis apologises to Arsenal fans

Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis has described Arsenal's defeat to Bradford City as "not good enough", and said he is tired of "delivering the message".

Speaking at a meeting with supporters that had been organised before the remarkable League Cup upset, Gazidis apologised to the fans and insisted they "deserve better".

"That is something we will work hard to put right. We all work here and are desperate to deliver the success and trophies we all want. Look into the eyes of the staff here, look at the way they talk.

"We will get this right. I initially thought this would be a great opportunity to spread Christmas cheer. I don't think it will be but I hope to speak to all of you."

The one change that may come regards transfer spending, with the club finally prepared to significantly bolster their squad in January. Some reports have suggested Wenger will have up to £60m to purchase players of higher quality.

Bradford upset insipid Arsenal on penalties

Phil Parkinson's League Two players did not just beat Arsenal in this Capital One Cup quarter-final, for much of this match they outplayed Arsene Wenger's woeful Gunners to reach a first ever semi-final.

The spot-kick specialists won their ninth successive penalty shoot-out 3-2 after Thomas Vermaelen struck the post.

The Arsenal skipper had earlier appeared to rescue the Gunners with a header three minutes from normal time to equalise Garry Thompson's first-half volley.
But keeper Matt Duke defied the Premier League side to send the tie to a shoot-out - and glory for Bradford.

The defeat in sub-zero temperatures, and another failure in Arsenal's seven-year quest for silverware, will chill the veins of Wenger as he contemplates the season so far.
The humiliation was further intensified by Wenger's breaking his long-held rule and fielding a full-strength side in the League Cup.

The 23,971 sell-out crowd, Bradford's biggest since 1960, had groaned as the teams were read out but they were soon cheering when their top-scorer Nahki Wells out-muscled Vermaelen and forced a sprawling save from Wojciech Szczesny.

Though referee Mike Dean ruled Bermuda international Wells had used too much force, it gave some hope to the Bantams.

Arsenal, meanwhile, passed up opportunities to test Duke from good positions, Vermaelen and Lukas Podolski both heading over.

Hope turned to jubilation for the Bradford fans in the 16th minute when a free-kick led to Thompson's goal.
Vermaelen had blocked off Wells and Gary Jones caused mayhem to Arsenal's zonal markers with his free-kick, Will Atkinson flicking it on for an unmarked Thompson to gleefully fire home.
It could have been 2-0 after Jones' corner found Rory McArdle and only Kieran Gibbs' clearance on the goal-line prevented further embarrassment for Wenger's men.
As the temperature dropped so did Arsenal's spirits, with Per Mertesacker being regularly beaten in the air by James Hanson.

Arsenal needed inspiration from somewhere and Francis Coquelin was almost the unlikely source with a skilful dribble through two challenges before rattling a shot against the foot of the post with Duke looking beaten.

Almost immediately, Santi Cazorla tried his luck from 20 yards but was a couple of yards wide.

Bradford's goal took on a charmed life when a more typical Arsenal move ended with Gibbs driving in a cross and Gervinho, from two yards out, somehow contriving to let the ball go through his legs.
The Bantams gave notice that their threat was not at an end when Hanson flicked on into Wells' path and his shot trickled agonisingly wide.

The Gunners' frustrations continued in the second half, Jack Wilshere flashing a shot well wide, then Gervinho mis-controlling when through on goal.

It was well past the hour when Duke was forced into his first save, parrying Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's first-time shot from fellow substitute Tomas Rosicky.

As time ticked down, Duke was in action again to deny Wilshere from the edge of the box.

The desperation finally paid dividends with three minutes of normal time remaining. After his corner had been half-cleared, Cazorla whipped in a delicious cross for Vermaelen to head home from close range.

Two brilliant saves in quick succession by Duke from Cazorla took the game into extra time.

Finally, Arsenal started to look like the Premier League side as Rosicky and Wilshere started to pull the strings. Duke's stunning save denied Gibbs, then Sagna's header was cleared off the line by Jones.

Cazorla nearly won it with a stunning, swerving effort from fully 30 yards that struck the crossbar, but Bradford held out for the shoot-out.

Arsenal were always on the back foot from when Cazorla had their first spot-kick saved, even more so when Marouane Chamakh hit the post.

Bradford could even afford to see Wojciech Szczesny deny Ritchie Jones and Stephen Darby before Vermaelen's miss sent Valley Parade into ecstasy.

Vilanova: Messi about more than goals

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova says Lionel Messi's goalscoring stats appear "impossible", while he feels there is more to the prolific Argentine's game than just putting the ball in the net.

Speaking to reporters after Messi's double strike took him past Gerd Muller's calendar year record to reach 86 goals in 2012 and gave his team a valuable 2-1 win at Real Betis, Vilanova said that his star turn was likely to set an even higher target before the current year was out.

"We are very pleased that Messi helped us win this game with his two goals and that he broke Muller's record," Vilanova said. "It seems impossible that he can score so many goals, he still has three matches left this year. I hope he can keep adding to it and helping us."

Vilanova was keen to remind everyone that Messi's powers go beyond his scoring ability, stating that the forward is unique as a complete all-round player.

"We will not see a player like this ever again," he said. "Not just for his goalscoring capacity and for his ability to see a pass, but for the way he understands the game in attack and defence."

When asked whether Messi, still just 25, might break his own record in future years, Vilanova cautioned against getting too carried away.

"We hope that he still has a lot left to give because he is still very young," he said. "We should not heap more pressure on him. His record this year is absolutely brutal. Someone will beat the record at some stage, but we should just focus on enjoying this moment."

Vilanova also praised his side's start to the game - Messi's two goals came inside first half hour - and subsequent ability to hold on for a 13th win in 14 Primera Division games when Betis came back into the game through Ruben Castro's well-taken strike.

"The first 30 minutes were the best we have played all year," the Barca boss said. "However, like I warned before the game, Betis scored before the break and it got complicated from there.

"In the second half they pressed us high up the pitch and had chances to score. I am pleased. In the first half we dominated the game and in the second half we managed to grind out the win. When these players need to suffer and come together they do it."