In the light of the Capital One Cup Semi Final between Liverpool and Chelsea, Jose Mourhino has been reflecting on what he has called, ‘his greatest transfer disappointed’. BBC Sport reported earlier this week that Jose Mourinho revealed a deal to bring Steven Gerrard to Stamford Bridge was very close, with his agent very keen to do business back in 2005.
Whilst speaking to BBC Sport, Jose spoke of his desire to line up with Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Claude Makelele in a midfield trio. When Mourinho first arrived in England, he played a midfield triangle during his first spell at Chelsea. With Claude Makelele playing in a defensive midfield position, creating the name ‘The Makelele role’. A potential English partnership between Lampard and Gerrard was what Mourinho, Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon (then Chelsea chief executive) wanted. A move could have ended the famous comparison between the pair and whether or not they could play as a duo.
Any deal was always going to be tough to draw Steven Gerrard away from his boyhood club, Liverpool. Since the potential move to Chelsea did not amount to anything, many wondered whether Gerrard would ever move on from Liverpool. Still to this day he continues at Anfield and has made 36 appearances against Chelsea, scoring one goal against them.
With Gerrard set to move to the MLS at the end of the season, Mourinho also spoke of his respect for Gerrard as a player. Mourinho stated “I understand why he was – almost, almost, almost – coming to Chelsea. But he didn’t and I respect that a lot.”
Whilst singing the praise of Gerrard, Mourinho also made a clear point to Chelsea supports. Speaking of his distaste of a certain song that is sung by the Stamford Bridge faithful. Mourinho added, “The song that my fans have I don’t like at all, a couple of times it is good fun, but to go and go and go, especially with a player like him who deserves respect, I don’t think you need that.”
