Frank Lampard has praised Raphael Borges Rodrigues, calling him a “real project” at Coventry City after his home debut in the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday. The 21-year-old winger, signed from Macarthur FC, has had a tough start due to injuries but showed glimpses of his talent during his 15-minute cameo. Lampard noted Rodrigues’ growing fitness and confidence, with more progress expected.
With the new signing Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Coventry City aims to nurture a promising young talent, according to Frank Lampard. The 21-year-old winger was acquired from Macarthur FC in the Australian A-League during the last transfer window.
However, his first few months at Coventry have been challenging, as he has struggled with injuries, including a thigh strain during pre-season and another setback while recovering. Despite these difficulties, Lampard remains optimistic about Rodrigues’ potential.
In his brief appearance during Coventry’s FA Cup third-round match against Sheffield Wednesday, Rodrigues played just over 15 minutes in extra time. Lampard praised his work ethic, describing him as a “real project” with great talent and a growing understanding of the game. He said:
“I’m just pleased for him because Rapha is a real project, and I’m not belittling him there but his background of not much football and coming from the A-League and getting injured in pre-season, and getting injured again. This is a robust league, one of the most robust out there so we are trying to work with him on the training ground and he’s been a pleasure to work with. He gets his head down and works, he’s getting fitter and is looking fitter, and he’s got talent. And in the 15 minutes or so that he got I thought we saw a couple of glimpses and I thought he had a good understanding of the game. But there’s a lot of work to do with Rapha, but there’s a real level of talent and a nice confidence in his eye.”
Lampard emphasized that although there’s still much work to be done, the young winger has shown confidence and a desire to succeed. With more time and continued development, Lampard believes Rodrigues will showcase his full potential, adding that his confidence and talent make him a valuable asset for the future.
