Tariq Lamptey’s name is prominent in 2020.
The 20-year-old left-back joined Brighton & Hove Albion back in the January transfer window from boyhood club Chelsea, and has gone from strength to strength since then. An England call-up is never far away, and there are even rumors of interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, all of whom have been impressed by Lamptey’s rapid ascent.
Taking things slowly has never been Lamptey’s method. Since his days in Chelsea’s academy, he’s been grabbing headlines for his electric pace, and now he’s getting the chance to show what he’s got in the Premier League every week.
Nice to see Lampty/Pool/Getty Images.
Sitting down for a 90-minute podcast with Adidas to celebrate the release of the new X Ghosted boot, Lampte recalls how he found out top-flight opposition, starting with his debut at Leicester City in June. He realized what he was.
“I’ve had the ball and I’ve gone past some players and I’ve drawn a foul, or I’ve gone past some other players and crossed into the box,” he recalls. “There was also a one-on-one moment. There’s a lot more to that game.
“That’s the way I play. I’m always working on my fitness off the pitch and on the training pitch to make sure that when it’s game time, I’m still running. It’s been with me throughout the process. There’s only one theme. From under-9 to the level I’m at now.”
As predicted, Lamptey started the red for the 2020/21 Premier League season. Within just three games, he had already won two penalties, which proved too much for Newcastle’s Alain Saint-Maximin and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
“He’s a fantastic player. I’m honored to have the opportunity to play against him. Whatever helps the team, I try to do,” he says, humbly refusing to take credit. .
However, there is no avoiding it. Lamptey’s talent has been too much for many big names this season, and the right-back admits he is enjoying the battles he finds himself in.
He won the first two penalties of the season/Poll/Getty Images.
“When I’m on the pitch I have a lot of respect for the other players, but once you’re up against your opponent, everything goes out the window,” he explains. “You just have to try and get the better of them, and the way I play, I like to think I’m fearless. I don’t care who I’m up against.
“It’s so quick. One minute, you can see he’s just moving towards the ball. You think, ‘No, I can get here faster’, so you just put yourself in front. .. I was looking for a goal, fair enough, but then he hit me and I thought ‘that’s it’.
Having said that, Lamptey isn’t going away just yet. He’s quick to remind himself that his career is still in its infancy, and a lot can change.
First Premier League goal for Tariq Lamptey!
The Brighton starlet only goes from strength to strength! ?#TOTBHA pic.twitter.com/Qq6A7F5zDI
— 90 Minutes (@90min_Football) November 1, 2020
He is already starting to see these changes. Senior opponents know exactly who he is and what he brings to the table now, so the element of surprise is gone. Now it’s a test of Lampty’s ability to overcome a willing opponent, and he’s loving it.
“When I started, I was new, nobody knew much about me, so I had a lot of freedom,” he concludes. “But the last few games, I feel like it’s a little more planned, but I enjoy that kind of stuff. It’s just part of the game and part of me learning. I’m still young. Am, so let me find a way around it.”
The Adidas X Podcast is available for download and listening on audio platforms here: https://podfollow.com/adidas-x/view.