The Liverpool skipper came close to moving to Stamford Bridge during Mourinho’s last spell at the club.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been speaking out on the subject of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard ahead of the two sides’ meeting in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup, with the 51-year-old suggesting that missing out on the midfielder was one of the biggest regrets of his managerial career to date.
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The concept of Gerrard moving to Stamford Bridge was not just a figment of Mourinho’s imagination, however, as the former England international appeared to come incredibly close to leaving Anfield for their West London rivals during the Portuguese’s last spell at the club, perhaps even handing in a transfer request.
Speaking ahead of the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final clash between the two clubs this week, however, the manager spoke out about his respect for the 34-year-old and that he “dreamed” of having him parachuted into the Blues midfield during his previous spell in charge at Stamford Bridge:
“We did everything to try and it was almost there. I was dreaming of Makelele, Gerrard and Lampard in midfield,” Mourinho was quoted by the London Evening Standard.
“We were playing in a proper triangle without a number 10 and playing Maka in front of the defenders. Me, Mr Abramovich and Peter Kenyon at that time, we dreamed of that.
“His people were open to him joining a top side like Chelsea. But to me personally he never said he would come. Never.”
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