The Chelsea boss has praised the Liverpool captain and admitted he tried to sign him on three occasions.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has describe Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as a "dear enemy" as he prepares to face the midfielder for the last time.
The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the latest instalment of a rivalry that has simmered since the two clubs met on multiple occasions in the Champions League during Mourinho's first spell in charge of the Blues.
Last season, Chelsea dealt the Reds' chances of winning the title a devastating blow with a 2-1 win at Anfield which saw Gerrard slip and allow Demba Ba to score the winning goal.
But, with the midfielder and Mourinho set to meet again one last time before the former England captain leaves for LA Galaxy in the summer, the Portuguese took the opportunity to shower him with praise.
"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."
Liverpool players are expected to form a guard of honour before Sunday's game after Chelsea were crowned champions with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, but Mourinho says the 34-year-old also deserves recognition.
"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."
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