Jose Mourinho has revealed he tried to sign Steven Gerrard not only as Chelsea manager – but also when he was at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Mourinho paid a personal tribute to Gerrard ahead of Chelsea's game against Liverpool on Sunday, saying he helped him become a better manager.

It will be the last time they lock horns before the Liverpool captain leaves Anfield for LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he tried to sign Steven Gerrard at Chelsea and Real Madrid

Mourinho also attempted to sign the Liverpool captain during his time in Italy as manager of Inter Milan

Sunday's match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge will be the last time the two lock horns

The Liverpool skipper leaves Anfield for LA Galaxy at the end of the season, 17 years after his Reds debut

'It is my time to honour the champion,' said Mourinho. 'It's my time to honour Steve Gerrard and say with opponents like him that I am the manager I am. I learn with my players and my best opponents.

'With my players' doubts and qualities and with my best opponents with the problems they give me and way they make me think and analyse them and study how to play against them.

'Steven Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies and for sure my dear enemy, the one who made me a better manager.

'To stop him or try to stop him has been very, very difficult. I lost against him, I won, I drew. I am very sad it's the last time I play against him. I need people like him to make me a better coach.

'I am sad he is leaving the same as our Frank Lampard, but Frank is a Chelsea legend and it's a different situation because Steven was always on the other side. I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to Real Madrid but he was always with the enemy. I want to honour him and I hope Stamford Bridge has the same feeling.

'It's too late to sign him. He can't play against Liverpool. He's done an amazing career with his people. He refused to play in other big clubs, other big leagues to play only for Liverpool and this is a feeling that stays together. Who knows I play against Steven as a Liverpool manager someday.'

Mourinho insists Liverpool captain Gerrard is one his favourite enemies and made him a better manager

Mourinho consoles Gerrard following Liverpool's defeat to Chelsea in the 2005 Carling Cup final

Over the years there has been a great debate as to who is the better play, Gerrard or Frank Lampard, and Mourinho added that he felt they were both on another level.

'I always thought that both were the best two No 8s in Europe.

'From 2004 to…. I will not say until 2014 but until 2012 they were the best two No 8s.

'In my opinion and my vision with them you don't play a No 10 you play with one No 6 and give the freedom to the two No 8s because they score more goals than any No 10.

'Lampard with 30 goals a season and Gerrard with 25, they score more goals together than the No 10 and the striker.'

Gerrard celebrates after getting the better of Mourinho's Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-finals

Football analysts BSports believes a Chelsea win being the most likely outcome against Liverpool