Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, has expressed that failure to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in 2005, remains one of his greatest disappointment. Mourinho, also asserted that Chelsea did ‘everything’ to sign the Liverpool captain in 2005. However, Gerrard decided to stay at Liverpool. The 34 year old Liverpool captain, is in his last season as a Red and will move to American club side LA Galaxy. However, Mourinho, was full of praise regarding Gerrard and agrees that it was also one of the greatest transfer disappointments, he ever faced.
“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.” said Mourinho
“We were playing in a proper triangle without a number 10 and playing Maka in front of the defenders. Me, Mr Abramovich and (former Chelsea chief executive) 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.
“He (Gerrard) was always a red and I think the decision was right.”
Asked if Gerrrard’s decision to stay at Liverpool was his biggest disappointment in the transfer market, Mourinho said: “Yes, but I have another one when I was trying 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.”
“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 added.
Steven Gerrard’s slip at Anfield, is perhaps an error highly capitalized by Chelsea fans and is even converted into a song, to scorn the Liverpool captain. Gerrard’s error, last season, proved decisive in the title race as Demba Ba scored Chelsea’s first goal, in a game which finished 2-0 to Mourinho’s little horses.
“The song that my fans have I don’t like at all,” Mourinho said.
“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 don’t need that.
“We have so many other songs, you don’t need that one. I love this quote when he was saying in his life he would never score a goal against Liverpool. I love these words.
Mourinho, also asserted that he respected Gerrard’s decision to stay at Liverpool.
“I understand why he was – almost, almost, almost – coming to Chelsea. But he didn’t and I respect that a lot.”