Jose Mourinho brings X factor to Leicester City as Brendan Rodgers hopes for Tottenham repeat

Brendan Rodgers is out to prove it’s now he who has the X factor as the apprentice tries to beat the master in a battle of minds with Jose Mourinho.

Leicester City’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Roma sees former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Spurs boss Mourinho bring his Roma side to England, with two ex-colleagues hoping to mastermind victory for their club from the dugouts at the King Power Stadium. Rodgers arguably made his name as a coach while working with the academy and reserves at Chelsea during Mourinho’s first tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese manager had plucked him from Reading and handed him the role of head youth coach following a recommendation. Nearly 20 years on from when they first worked together, Rodgers still holds Mourinho in the highest esteem.

But on Thursday night, they will be going head to head, and Rodgers will hope for a repeat of their last meeting, when City beat Tottenham 2-0 in December 2020. It was the first time in eight attempts that Rodgers had triumphed over Mourinho.

“Roma have got a great manager and fantastic players so we have to be at our best over two games to reach the final,” Rodgers said at his press conference. “There’s a lot been said about Jose Mourinho over many years.

“He is one of great managers and has nothing ever to prove to anyone. He is a winner and will always be a winner. And will only want to prove it to himself.

“He is such a special manager and one of the greats of our generation. When I was a young coach I looked at all managers I worked with and I would assimilate as much of their work and learn and study.

“Jose, back in 2004 when I joined Chelsea, he had just joined in the summer, Jose was the guy everyone wanted to be