Jose Mourinho reveals clear-the-air message from Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool boss sends his congratulations

By Neil Ashton for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:14 EDT, 29 April 2014 | Updated: 03:31 EDT, 30 April 2014

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Brendan Rodgers apologised for his swipe at Chelsea’s tactics following Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.

Mourinho, preparing for Wednesday evening’s Champions League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, said that Rodgers sent him a message on Tuesday to clarify his controversial post-match comments.

Rodgers had claimed it ‘wasn’t hard to coach 10 players to be on the edge of the 18-yard box’ and also added: ‘I think there were two buses parked today, never mind one,’ after Liverpool’s 11-game winning streak ended.

VIDEO Scroll down for Mourinho: Rodgers told me congratulations for a great victory

On the phone: Brendan Rodgers (left) called Jose Mourinho on Tuesday to personally congratulate him

Big win: Chelsea players celebrate a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday

Mourinho said: ‘Of course I know his words after the match, but I also know his words today. And today he told me congratulations for a great victory and a great performance. So, especially because I consider him a friend and someone I like, I prefer to forget the words after the match and I keep today’s word.

'He’s an intelligent guy. He watched the match for sure on video and, now, I think he understood what happened.

‘Brendan is somebody I consider my friend. I met him a long time ago when he was coaching kids.’

Chelsea captain John Terry returns to the team after intensive treatment on an ankle injury, but goalkeeper Petr Cech — who trained yesterday — has been ruled out with a damaged shoulder.

Mourinho, who is on the verge of reaching his third Champions League final with three different clubs, is becoming frustrated with criticism of his team’s defensive tactics against Atletico and then Liverpool. He said: ‘Football is full of philosophers — people who understand much more than me. It’s amazing. But the reality is always the reality.

Speaking his mind: Rodgers had said on Sunday that Chelsea had parked two buses at Anfield

Dejection: Liverpool suffered a blow to their title hopes with defeat at home to Chelsea on Sunday

‘I remember to say in my first period here, if you have a goalkeeper like Petr Cech who puts the ball in the opponents’ box, and a striker like Didier Drogba who wins everything in the air, why play short? Because you are stupid?

‘If your opponents are very fast on the counter and want space behind your defensive line, if you give them that space you are stupid.

‘In this moment, depending on the coach and the club obviously, the critics they speak. But, no problem.

‘When Atletico has the ball, we have to defend. When we have the ball we have to attack. This is football, the football that I know. 

Back in action: John Terry (centre) takes part in training on Tuesday and will start against Atletico

Feeling good: Mourinho was speaking on the eve of Chelsea's Champions League semi against Atletico Madrid

‘You have the ball, you have to try and play according to the qualities of your players and the qualities of your opponents.’

Mourinho also said he was now ready to commit to Chelsea ‘for ever’ as he prepared for the second leg against Atletico.

He added: ‘My future is Chelsea and if Chelsea decides it’s time to stop our relationship, it’s Chelsea that decides, not me.

‘I want to stay for ever. When Chelsea decide it’s time to stop, it’s time for me to think about my future.’