LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has declared Chelsea forward Diego Costa an "outstanding" player despite the controversy that surrounded Tuesday's Capital One Cup semifinal.
Costa has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an alleged stamp on Emre Can during a heated second leg at Stamford Bridge, which Jose Mourinho's side won.
Rodgers called the Spain international's behaviour "poor" during a news conference immediately after the game.
But on Thursday the Liverpool boss, who tried to sign the 26-year-old from Atletico Madrid in August 2013, acknowledged Costa's quality.
"I don't want to talk too much about Diego Costa. We were interested in him because he's an outstanding player," Rodgers said.
"You find all the best players have that edge. You look at behaviour and hope he doesn't overstep the mark. But he's a wonderful player and that's all I need to say."
Rodgers, meanwhile, insists that there is no ill feeling between him and Mourinho despite several flashpoints during Tuesday's match, when Chelsea's 1-0 extra-time win secured a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place in the final against Tottenham at Wembley on March 1.
The two managers appeared to row on the touchline during the match, while Mourinho criticised Rodgers afterwards for failing to praise the performance of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
But Rodgers said: "There's no needle. I said how good my team were afterwards and I made some points I felt were relevant.
"The most important thing was that the team are returning to a top level of performance. Of course, you're disappointed when you don't make the final but we've gained a lot from that competition."