Jose Mourinho says he used to 'dream' of having Steven Gerrard at Chelsea

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said that he used to dream of signing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard during his first spell at the helm of the London club.

Gerrard is in his final season with Liverpool before his summer move to LA Galaxy, but Mourinho has said that the the former England player once came close to joining the Blues.

He told reporters: "We did everything [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 ten and playing Maka in front of the defenders. Me, Mr Abramovic 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."

Gerrard could feature tomorrow night as Mourinho's men face the Reds at Anfield in the League Cup semi-final first leg.