Chelsea play at Liverpool on Saturday and Brendan Rodgers prepared for the match by not starting Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli, Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho against Real Madrid.

“I don’t speak about Liverpool, I speak about myself,” said José Mourinho. “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.

“But who knows? Liverpool might play a fantastic match and win and rest players and the players are in great condition to play against Chelsea. In this case it might be a genius decision. In football it is difficult to comment.”