Mourinho congratulated by Rodgers

29 April 2014 20:01

Jose Mourinho has revealed Brendan Rodgers sent his congratulations to Chelsea on Tuesday, two days after the Liverpool manager's scathing criticism of his rival's tactics in Sunday's Premier League contest at Anfield.

Chelsea won 2-0 to keep their slim title prospects alive and dent Liverpool's hopes of winning a first championship in 24 years with a defensive set-up which irked Rodgers.

"I think there were two buses parked today, never mind one," Rodgers said on Sunday.

"It is not difficult to coach, putting 10 players on the edge of the 18-yard box."

Mourinho, who brought Rodgers to Chelsea during his first spell, declined to respond to the criticism on the eve of his side's Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid, the same day he received a text message from the Reds boss acknowledging Chelsea's victory.

"You know pundits are pundits and I don't want to comment a lot," Mourinho said.

"Brendan is a manager and is somebody that I consider my friend.

"I met him a long time ago when he was a very young coach coaching kids.

"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.

"Especially because he's somebody I consider a friend and I like, I prefer to forget the words after the match and I keep the words of today.

"He's an intelligent guy, I believe that after the match he watched the match on video and I think now he understood what happened."

Source: PA