LONDON:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said failing to sign Steven Gerrard
remains one of his greatest regrets as he urged Blues fans to stop
mocking the Liverpool captain.
The two Premier League clubs
will clash again when they meet at Anfield on Tuesday in the first leg
of a League Cup semifinal, with Gerrard having already announced he will
leave Merseyside at the end of this season to join US Major League
Soccer side LA Galaxy.
During his first spell as Chelsea
manager, Mourinho was on the verge of bringing midfielder Gerrard to
Stamford Bridge in 2005 but the former England captain ultimately
decided to stay with his home town club.
His decision arguably
cost Gerrard the chance to win the Premier League title, something he
has not yet managed in his illustrious career and a feat he is unlikely
to achieve this season given Liverpool are currently a huge 17 points
behind leaders Chelsea.
"He (Gerrard) is a historical player
for Liverpool, a historical player for the Premier League and an
opponent I have always admired and respected," Mourinho said.
"We did everything to try (to sign him) and it was almost there. I was
dreaming of (Claude) Makelele, Gerrard and (Frank) Lampard in midfield.
"We were playing in a proper triangle without a number 10 and playing Maka in front of the defenders.
"Me, Mr (Roman) Abramovich (Chelsea's owner) and Peter Kenyon (the
Blues' then chief executive) 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.
"He (Gerrard) was always a Red and I think the decision was right."
Mourinho, asked if failing to bring Gerrard to Chelsea was his biggest
transfer regret, said: "Yes, but I have another one when I was trying
(to bring) Lampard to Inter.
"I was almost there and it didn't happen too. I had a couple of disappointments and that's normal in football."
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