Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had both harsh and kind words for his opposite number Brendan Rodgers, saying the managers are "very different people" after his side edged into the Capital One Cup final with a 2-1 aggregate victory at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho and Rodgers appeared to exchange heated words on the touchline in a feisty battle, with Reds boss Rodgers riling his former colleague by suggesting Blues striker Diego Costa should have been punished for his apparent stamps on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.
While Mourinho offered some kind words for Rodgers and the revival he is inspiring after a poor start to the season at Liverpool, he was quick to criticise the Anfield chief over his views on Costa's challenges.
"We are very different people," said Mourinho, who employed Rodgers on his staff during his first stint as Blues boss. "He worked in Chelsea in my time for a few years. I don't know if he learned something with me or not. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.
"I could speak about Skrtel, I don't. He goes to the television, he speaks about [Thibaut] Courtois. He forgets [Liverpool goalkeeper Simon] Mignolet. I speak about Courtois and Mignolet.
"He forgets his goalkeeper. I don't forget my goalkeeper, because my goalkeeper helped me to be in the final. Different profiles. He is what he is. He is a fantastic manager, but we are different people."
Earlier on Sky Sports, Mourinho suggested Rodgers deserves praise for lifting his side from an early season slump in form to re-emerge as a force capable of rattling the Premier League leaders.
"I think in the second half we were better than them and also in the extra time, but I want to be honest and I want to be fair with them," Mourinho told Sky.
"I want to say that they were there. A very good team, great work by Brendan to change the shape and the mode of play because the way they started he season was not going in the right direction and he was intelligent enough to change and to create a new team.
"This is a new Liverpool team and they are a very difficult opponent. They are now a very good team and we beat a very good team to get over two legs.
"The difference was one goal. It should have happened before, in the 90 minutes. In the second half especially as we had a lot of the ball. I had a fantastic Diego [Costa], Willian, [Eden] Hazard and Oscar in the second period. Also my Ramires was back.
"We controlled the game very, very well so I feel like we deserve it."
Goal scorer Branislav Ivanovic expressed his relief after he scored Chelsea's extra-time clincher, in what he accepted was a tight contest.
"It was a very hard game," said the Serbian defender. "We are very happy we are going to Wembley and waiting for tomorrow's semi-final [between Sheffield United and Tottenham. This is a game where you show the real character of the team and we are very happy.
"I'm happy with my goal but I think this game is a real example of how the team has to play and the team wins the game."
Mourinho also revealed that Ivanovic's boot was filled with blood at the end of the game, after the defender battled through the game despite suffering a bad cut.