Jose Mourinho writes a weekly column entitled 'Hotel Chelsea' for the Portuguese sports daily 'Record'.

In this section read a translated summary of Mourinho's fascinating insights.

28 November 2005

Frank Lampard - a player from another world

Frank Lampard will this weekend play his 160th consecutive match in the Premiership, beating the already brilliant record set by a goalkeeper. One hundred and sixty matches are more than four championships without injuries, without suspensions, without drops in form that relegate him to the bench, without rest.

It’s not enough to be a great player, it is also necessary to be a super-athlete, train with intensity and quality, have a strong character, unlimited ambition and to be an example of fair play to escape yellow and red cards.

There are obviously all over the world great players, full of talent, deserving of individual trophies, with the natural right to the adoration that they arouse in lovers of our game. But Frank Lampard is a player for every day, every match, in winter and on heavy pitches, in summer and on dry grass, against aggressive opponents or fragile ones, against man marking or zonal marking. He defends, attacks, assists, scores goals. He is a player from another world, who this weekend will beat a record fit for supermen – 160 consecutive matches in the Premiership – a league more difficult than any other in the World!

Here the game is faster, more aggressive, with more playing time, less rest between passages of play, with harsh winters, all contributing towards making this a very special record. Fantastic Frank!

Champions League excitement

Benfica and Porto are going to provide the Portuguese with an exciting final Champions League group matchday. They can both make progress, be knocked out but go to the UEFA Cup, or be knocked out of the two competitions. Benfica play at home, but against Manchester United; Porto away but against Artmedia. I can’t say who are in the better situation.

They have to play to win and, in Porto’s case, hope that Inter win in Glasgow. Through experience I know that a team that has qualified and is guaranteed first place in the group will find it difficult to generate the adrenalin necessary to play with intensity. It will certainly be exciting.

As for us, we arrived in Brussels and “killed” the game – after 15 minutes we had qualified. What’s best: first or second? Last year we finished first and got Barcelona in the next round…

Real Madrid – Barça

In the Spanish classic the crowd was correct, realised the superiority of the visitors, were amazed by them and applauded. This may seem like a perfect scenario, but I believe Barça receiving applause in the Santiago Bernabeu is the most “violent” reaction there could have been. Can you imagine Sporting being applauded in the Estádio da Luz, our Benfica at Alvalade? Ronaldinho made history!