Mourinho defends Lampard

For Premiership, Champions League, Uefa Cup and Football League odds click here.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has defended under-fire Frank Lampard, despite the England midfielder being replaced as the club’s penalty taker.

Michael Ballack took over spot-kick duties in Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Werder Bremen, after Lampard had missed a penalty against Charlton on Saturday.

But Mourinho said: “I have 100% confidence in Lampard but I said if the next penalty was crucial, it’s better for another player to take it.

“If the next one comes where Lampard is cool he will take it again.

“People remember Lampard missing a penalty against Charlton but I remember him scoring more than 10 penalties for us.”

Mourinho said he was unhappy at volume of criticism meted out to Lampard since England’s World Cup campaign earlier this summer.

“For me, Lampard is guilty,” said Mourinho. “He is guilty because you never had a player like him in the last 10 years and because of that you are having a go at him.

“He is guilty because he scored so many goals and he played so many matches and he always gives 100%, game after game, for Chelsea and England.”

Mourinho was also critical of Greek referee Kyros Vassaras’ decision to show four yellow cards to his players in the second half against Werder Bremen.

“The reality is that if you look at Barcelona tonight they had no yellow cards, Bayern Munich had no yellow card, Liverpool had no yellow card, Valencia had no yellow cards, Roma had no yellow cards but Chelsea have four,” he continued. “Do you think it is violence?”

Despite his evident frustration, the Chelsea boss was pleased with the Champions League win.

“The result is fantastic for us,” he said. “It is three points against one of our direct opponents for qualification from this group.

“It is a very important victory. It is an important three points for us at a stage of the season where teams are not at their maximum.”