"I tried to bring him to Chelsea, Inter & Real Madrid, but he remained a dear enemy," he told reporters.
"To stop him, or to try to stop him, is very difficult. I'm very sad it's the last time I will play against him.

"It is because of opponents like him, that I am the manager I am. I learn through my players and through my best opponents and the problems they give me, the way they make me think and analyse them.
"Steven Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies. An enemy with all the good feeling I can express."

"It is my time to honour a champion in Steve Gerrard," the Portuguese added.
"I won, lost and drew against him, him as a holding player, a No 8, a No 10, coming from the wing in a three-man defence and I am very sad it is the last time I play against him because I need people like him to make me a better coach.
"Who knows, maybe I play against Steven when he is Liverpool manager one day."