Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has paid tribute to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Rodgers spent four years at Chelsea after being recruited as a youth coach by Jose Mourinho in 2004.

He admitted: "When I arrived at Chelsea, a mission had been put in place by Roman Abramovich to make them one of the biggest clubs in the world by 2014.

"To do that they had to win Premier League ­titles and also the Champions League, and they have already achieved that.

"Mr Abramovich was fantastic when I was there. He would come up to training and watch once or twice a week when he was in the country.

"Outside the club he didn't say a great deal, but I always found him approachable.

"He has a real interest in football.

"He wants to win, but he wants to win in a certain way - and he shouldn't be knocked for that ­because he has made a massive investment."