Brendan Rodgers brushes Jose Mourinho’s ‘mind games’ aside

Brendan Rodgers insists that he is completely unconcerned by anything Jose Mourinho has to say in the build-up to Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Mourinho has been accused of attempting to gain a psychological advantage ahead of the clash by suggesting that he is considering playing a weakened team against the Premier League leaders at Anfield ahead of the Blues’ Champions League semi-final second leg.

He knows me well enough to know it wouldn’t bother me one iota what anyone says or does

Brendan Rodgers

However, Rodgers – who worked under Mourinho during his spell as a coach at Stamford Bridge – declared that he is paying no attention to anything his counterpart has to say ahead of the Merseyside showdown.

“Jose is a winner,” Rodgers said. “He won’t give up. There’s certainly no mind games on behalf of himself to myself for sure.

“He knows me well enough to know it wouldn’t bother me one iota what anyone says or does.

“I’ve seen some stuff written about them maybe being a weaker team but I think that’s hugely disrespectful to some of their players if they’re deemed to be the weaker ones in the squad.

“Whatever team they put out, it will cost more money than ours and it will be more experienced than ours.”

Liverpool head into Sunday’s clash five points clear of second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table.