Jose will not crack under pressure, insists Lampard

Frank Lampard has denied claims manager Jose Mourinho is cracking under the pressure as Chelsea's pursuit of the quadruple enters its critical phase.

With the Carling Cup already secured, the Blues are still fighting for the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League.

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It has been suggested Mourinho is losing the plot under the burden of expectation after two outspoken attacks by the Portuguese in the past week.

He firstly claimed last weekend it was 'impossible' for penalties to be awarded against rivals Manchester United after Middlesbrough were denied a last-minute spot-kick in their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford and Chelsea saw their own claims for a penalty turned down the following day at Newcastle.

Mourinho then complained his side had missed out again during Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg - saying Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa should have been penalised for handball despite the incident taking place outside the box.

But Lampard said: 'Jose is too strong for that. Believe me, he won't crack up. He'll relish a battle on the pitch and off the pitch.

'Whether you agree with him or not, you love him or you hate him, you'd still miss him if he wasn't around. He's certainly not cracking, just passionate about winning.'