JOSE’S MY INSPIRATION Lamps admits Mourinho made him

FRANK LAMPARD’S legendary status was made in Chelsea – but he has identified Jose Mourinho as the greatest single influence on his career.

And that is why Lampard is determined to draw heavily on his experiences under the two- time Stamford Bridge supremo as he kicks off his own reign there.

The former Blues star won two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and an FA Cup in his time working with the Portuguese boss.

And he admi t s Mourinho made him feel a million dollars, turning him from a reluctant, introverted player into arguably the best attacking midfielder in the

Premier League era.

Those skills are hardwired in Lampard’s memory as he takes on the huge task of reinventing Chelsea after the turbulent reigns of Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.

But Lampard admits he has not called any of his former bosses for advice – and probably won’t.

And why should he?

Having spent more than four years working with Mourinho, Lampard knows every managerial trick the Special One has ever pulled. “Even for good or bad, you take influence,” said Lampard. “And Jose Mourinho is an obvious case for me because he was the manager who dramatically changed my career.

“He brought success to Chelsea, but also for me, personally, because my game went up a few notches.

“It was mainly about mentality – it was his confidence in me. I was quite within myself when he came, my self-belief wasn’t where it should have been.

“And then in walks this fella with self-belief to burn and to pass on – and he did and I bought into it.

“He was certainly a great man-manager for me and also ahead of the game tactically. He made me think more than maybe I had done before he came.” And Lampard admitted that is why, when anyone turns their guns on Mourinho, he can’t help but jump in and defend the Portuguese.

Mourinho is still out of work following his departure from Manchester United last December just over two years into his contract after winning the Europa League and League Cup. But Lampard insists he’ll be a winner again.

“I get defensive about him because I think his record speaks for itself,” said the former Derby manager.

“In the current era, with the media and social media, everything is blown up out of all proportion.

“But when you strip away all the talk, you see Jose is a manager who has won everything and who has been incredibly successful.

“So I get defensive because I worked under him and have a good relationship with him.

“It’s very easy to make judgements from the outside and maybe Manchester United didn’t end the way he would have wanted it to.

“But he’s going to come back and I’m sure he’ll be successful again.”

Lampard also credits Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti (left) for opening his eyes to a dif ferent way of management, as well as his own uncle Harry Redknapp at West Ham.

“Carlo was a fantastic manmanager who made you very comfortable to work for him. And Harry was so influential in my early years, too,” he told PFA magazine 4 The Player. “I’m just lucky that I had so many positive influences and you can take snippets from all of them.

“In my 20s, I wasn’t so crazy about going into coaching, but, as soon as I hit 30 and wondered ‘ What next?’, I started to be more thoughtful about the influences in my career.”