Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho smiles before their English Premier League soccer match against Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley, northern England August 18, 2014.
Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho smiles before their English Premier League soccer match against Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley, northern England August 18, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Yates

If Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho were to handle Liverpool's affairs during their match against Real Madrid last Tuesday, he would have gone to war with his aces.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has been heavily criticised in the last several hours after leaving out regular starters Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling, and Jordan Henderson.

While the "Special One" did not recommend anything directly to his under fire counterpart, his opinions were still suggestive.

"If Liverpool decide to rest players when they play against the European champions, it's a question for the Liverpool manager - it's not a question for me," Mourinho said, when asked about Rodgers' intriguing decision.

"I don't speak about Liverpool, I speak about myself."

"If one day I go to a game and I don't feel I can win, maybe I don't go."

"Normally, against the most difficult opponents, normally I will try to go with my best team."

Something positive, however, might be had of Rodgers' choice to give some of his key men a breather ahead of their Premier League fixture against Chelsea.

"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," he added.

"In this case it might be a genius decision. In football it is difficult to comment."

The Blues will be visiting Maribor on Wednesday for a Champions League clash, and will look to keep their undefeated streak in all competitions going.

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