Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is grateful for his grounding at Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho brought in Rodgers as youth-team manager in 2004 when billionaire owner Roman Abramovich unveiled his ten-year plan.

That long-term strategy cuts across thoughts that the Russian ruler demanded instant success.

Rodgers said: "They were revamping the youth academy and looking to bring someone in to implement a similar style to what Jose's ideas were - a European approach to the game. The mission was to become one of the biggest clubs in the world by 2014.

"In order to do that they had to win Premier League title and the Champions League. So the journey was under way in 2004. And it has been interesting for me to track that."