Jose frank about Lampard

Lampard took his rich goalscoring vein to four in as many games with the decisive strike in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge - three for his club and one for his country.

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."

He added: "So, he's sharp and mentally ready. He wants to play a great season and he's winner. He was not happy with just two cups last season and I know I can count on him."

Mourinho was delighted to emerge with all three points after a game where Portsmouth pushed his side to the limit, but the Chelsea coach added that a combination of high temperatures and an international week had not helped matters.

Mourinho 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 are prepare is not the same.

"It happens like this four out of five international weeks. But at the same time Portsmouth are a good team who are well organised with good players and manager. They made it difficult for us but the weather was not a help. It was very hot and I could see in the first half it was very difficult for the players to play intense football.

"There was no pressure on the ball and people were thinking and walking slowly on the pitch. I had to shake them at half-time to improve in the second half. I am happy with the points and the fact we are top of the league. But I want to play better."

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was delighted with his side's performance, which for the want of better finishing, could have brought them a share of the spoils.

Redknapp declared: "We had no real problems for the first half hour but then Frank does what he does better than anybody else. He ran off his marker and gamble that he would get on the knock down and that's exactly what he did. But we had some good chances. We have made unbelievable progress in 18 months."