Frank Lampard says Tatsuhiro Sakamoto has earned his chance after starting back-to-back matches against Tottenham and Fulham, with the Coventry City boss pleased by both his performances and his professionalism.
For a player who was limited to 31 minutes against Hull and 29 minutes against Newcastle in Coventry City’s first six games, the last two outings have marked a clear step up. Sakamoto, one of the club’s Championship promotion heroes and a fan favourite, has now had his first real opportunity to show what he can do on the Premier League stage.
Why Lampard has been encouraged
Lampard was clear that he has liked what he has seen. He said Sakamoto was “good” against Newcastle when he came on, adding that he “affected the game really positively”.
That type of contribution matters, because it shows a player can influence a match even when he is not starting. For a squad trying to settle into the demands of the Premier League, that reliability is valuable.
The Coventry boss was also happy with Sakamoto’s display against Tottenham. Lampard said he thought the winger “did well against Tottenham in all senses of his game” and pointed in particular to his work ethic, which he described as usual.
Energy, effort and professionalism
Against Fulham, Lampard felt Sakamoto stood out in a different way. He noted that Coventry were “pretty more passive than usual”, but said Sakamoto “wasn’t”, describing him as “very active and on and off the ball, and very energetic in his way”.
That is the kind of detail managers notice. It suggests Sakamoto is not just getting through games, but helping to set the tone when Coventry need energy and discipline out of possession.
Lampard also underlined the wider point about Sakamoto’s career path. He said the player had been working all his career to reach this level, and praised his professionalism every day as “first class”.
That is especially telling given that Sakamoto has just turned 30. Lampard’s message was not simply that the winger has done well in a short spell, but that he has earned the right to be trusted at this level.
For Coventry, that matters because squad balance is always part of the story. Loum Tchaouna’s lack of involvement has also been part of the wider picture, but Sakamoto’s recent starts have given Lampard a useful option at a time when selection decisions are becoming more revealing.
The next question is whether Sakamoto can keep building on these starts and turn a short run of appearances into a more regular role. For now, Lampard’s view is clear: he has stepped up well, and Coventry have reason to be encouraged.
