Jose Mourinho Aims Dig at Brendan Rodgers over Liverpool Team Selection

Jose Mourinho has suggested he wouldn't replicate Brendan Rodgers' decision to pick a severely depleted team against Real Madrid.

The Portuguese manager, whose Chelsea side face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, indicated he would stop managing if he felt his team couldn't win matches. His comments were reported by Martin Lipton of the Mirror:

"

If Liverpool decide to rest players when they play against the European champions it’s a question for the Liverpool manager, not a question for me. I don’t speak about Liverpool. I speak about myself.

If one day I go to a game and I don’t feel I can win, maybe I don’t go. So, normally, against the most difficult opponents, I will try to go with my best team. 

"

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Rodgers' decision led to a 1-0 loss on Tuesday night, but it did provide some of Liverpool's reserves the opportunity to impress ahead of facing Chelsea. Kolo Toure, Joe Allen, Lazar Markovic and Fabio Borini worked well in testing conditions at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid rarely exited second gear and the Reds will feel they could have got something from the match if Rodgers started his first team.

A lack of ambition was highlighted by Madrid's 27 shots to Liverpool's four, reported by WhoScored.com. Cristiano Ronaldo was noticeably off colour and couldn't influence the match, but the likes of Marcelo and Karim Benzema buzzed for the European champions.

The former especially offered a prime example of Liverpool sitting off to contain, as the left-back racked up three shots, four key passes and five successful dribbles without being dispossessed once, recorded by WhoScored.

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Rodgers' team made it into the Champions League with exciting football—the kind that could rip any defence apart—so it was disappointing to witness an ideology which prioritised not getting hammered over three points.

Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker perhaps best summed up the situation:

Football writer Thore Haugstad highlighted that confidence will be taken from Liverpool's performance:

Rodgers now has a fresh team to deploy against Chelsea. In truth, the quality of his decision to rest starters against Madrid will only become apparent once Saturday's match has concluded. If Liverpool are led to victory by the likes of Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling, the manager will deservedly take plenty of praise. If they lose, his squad management will rightfully be questioned.

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Mourinho has often been questioned for being too cautious on the road, but his side generally look to establish a lead before shifting emphasis to defence. He doesn't drop important players with upcoming matches in mind and always looks to win, even if his tactics have a tendency to increase the importance of a clean sheet away from Stamford Bridge.

This is likely to show itself during Saturday's clash. Last season, Chelsea achieved a 2-0 victory with the ambition to counter, and of course, Gerrard's title-changing slip. The former England captain should be part of a refreshed team when the lunchtime kick-off rolls around and will be itching to make up for his now notorious mistake.

Should Liverpool manage this, Rodgers' caution against Madrid will have paid off. Should Mourinho grab another victory, Liverpool will be 15 points behind the west London club after just 11 games, all but ending their title hopes at this early stage of the season.