Jose Mourinho: 'I tried to sign Steven Gerrard three times'

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has described Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard as his "dear enemy" ahead of their final meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Gerrard will leave the Merseyside giants at the end of the season to link up with LA Galaxy, but Mourinho has revealed that the future of the 34-year-old could have been different had he been successful with any of his three approaches for the former England skipper.

The 52-year-old is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "Steven Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies. An enemy with all the good feeling I can express. For sure in England, he is my dear enemy. The one who made me a better manager.

"I need people like him to make me a better coach. I am very sad he is leaving, the same as Frank Lampard. He is a Chelsea legend. It's a different situation.

"I tried to bring him to Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid and he was always the enemy. I hope Stamford Bridge has the same feeling I have. We need people like him. He can't play against Liverpool."

Chelsea host Liverpool having already wrapped up the Premier League title.