Jose hails shining Lamps
26 Aug 2007 - 09:07:16
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho paid tribute to England midfielder Frank Lampard after his goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home to Portsmouth.
Lampard struck on the half-hour mark at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues pushed themselves to the top of the table at this early stage of the season.
Mourinho said: "If he has critics I am not one of them. He has people that support him every time and I am one of them.
"It is not easy for midfield players to score four goals in as many matches. In the three games he's scored for us, he has given us important points.
"Frank scored at Reading and Liverpool and now it's four consecutive matches for England and Chelsea. They were important goals for us and every goal meant something.
"When he plays he is the best when he doesn't he is the second or third best - he is a fantastic player.
"He's sharp and mentally ready. He wants to play a great season and he's a winner. He was not happy with just two cups last season and I know I can count on him."
Of the midweek internationals, the Portuguese added: "I don't like to play after national games in midweek.
"They go, they play, some come back unhappy, some frustrated, some happy, some train very hard, some don't train.
"Some travel on Thursday just to train on Friday. I cannot train with the team or prepare it.
"The concentration is not the same and the way we prepare is not the same. It happens like this four out of five international weeks."
