Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal broke down on French TV speaking about Tito Vilanova.

The former Barca coach passed away on Friday.

"We had the disease one year apart. He was a great fighter. He will always have a place in our hearts and minds. He was a real gentleman," said AS Monaco defender Abidal, who beat liver cancer while at the Camp Nou.

The 34-year-old France international added that Vilanova, who was just 45 when he died, "went very quickly, which is always tough to take".