Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has backed manager Antonio Conte over his recent foul-mouthed outburst about rumours surrounding the club.

Conte hit out after being quizzed on reports Carlo Ancelotti was preparing to take his place, saying: 'I think around us there is a lot of bulls**t. If I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bulls**t.'

Lampard, who made 632 appearances for the Premier League club, has dismissed the notion that the comments showed Conte was feeling the pressure.

Rather, the former England captain said it can be good for managers to show their emotions on occasion.

Frank Lampard has defended Chelsea boss Antonio Conte over his foul-mouthed outburst

'I think around us there is a lot of bulls**t,' Conte said of rumours he was set to leave his post

'When Antonio Conte spoke out in angry fashion last week, it showed a man in charge of things at Chelsea, not crumbling under the strain,' he wrote in the Evening Standard.

'I don’t think it is a bad thing that he showed his emotions. He is pretty cool-headed most of the time. But sometimes if you have to say something, you should say it as a manager.

Conte, whose side have made a stuttering start to their title defence, was also unhappy at suggestions his players were unhappy with his training regime.

'It showed a man in charge of things at Chelsea, not crumbling under the strain,' Lampard said

Reports claimed members of the Chelsea squad were unhappy with Conte's training methods

And Lampard has claimed that, when he was at Stamford Bridge, he would have welcomed his manager standing up for himself and his players.

'As a player I would be happy with the idea of Conte defending himself and the team as a whole. I would appreciate him nipping it in the bud.

'You have to react at certain times. If you always keep your mouth shut, maybe you’re letting things run away that you shouldn’t do. Of course, pressure is not new to him.'