An emotional Arsene Wenger revealed he was one of the last people to speak with Gerard Houllier before he died as he paid tribute to the former Liverpool boss' immense courage for undergoing heart surgery.
Houllier, 73, who had a long history of medical issues, most notably a heart problem and high blood pressure, underwent aortic aneurysm surgery in Paris three weeks before he died on Monday. The exact cause of his death remains unknown.
The Frenchman reportedly admitted to a journalist In his final text message at the weekend that he was 'struggling' but vowed: 'I am going to come out of this' after having an operation on his heart.