Hugo Ekitiké came to Eintracht Frankfurt in a poor physical condition. Ten months later, Eintracht probably has an upcoming French international in their ranks.
if (this.$refs.caption.scrollHeight === this.$refs.caption.clientHeight) {
this.truncated = false;
}
});
}
}” false=”” truncated=”false” :=””>
Hugo Ekitiké after his goal against Bayern
Bild © Imago Images
Video
45:39 Min. |10/7/24, 5:55 p.m|hessenschau
Eintracht is now a top team!
<img class="w-full" src="https://www.hr-fernsehen.de/sendungen-a-z/heimspiel/sendungen/cover-heimspiel-16-9-sge-ist-jetzt-spitzenteam-100~_t-1728308598076_v-16to9__medium.jpg" alt="In-form striker Omar Marmoush beams with joy without a jersey after the 3-3 draw in added time against Bayern Munich.”/>
if (this.$refs.caption.scrollHeight === this.$refs.caption.clientHeight) {
this.truncated = false;
}
});
}
}” false=”” truncated=”false” :=””>
Image © hr / picture alliance/dpa/Revierfoto
It’s just a short clip on social media, but it shows the whole class of Eintracht striker Hugo Ekitiké in just a few seconds. A cross in training for the French U21s comes into Ekitiké’s back, but where others let the ball pass, the 22-year-old receives the ball with his back to the goal – and finishes sensationally with his back heel. A masterpiece and an expression of the Frankfurt attacker’s self-confidence.
One thing is clear: Hugo Ekitiké is working. In January, the striker moved to Frankfurt with all sorts of background noise. He came with a lot of praise, but at Eintracht there was initially disillusionment about the player’s physical condition.
“Otherwise the muscle will fly apart”
The star-studded PSG no longer had any use for Ekitiké; he no longer trained with the team four months before his move. Ekitiké’s poor condition became apparent in a friendly against Eintracht’s U21s: “He gave us a signal after 45 minutes that he had to leave the pitch. Otherwise the muscle will fall apart,” said coach Dino Toppmöller at the time. “We have to be very careful.”
And so the beacon of hope had become a problem child. Which, little by little, boosted Eintracht, which is why over time the problem child became a beacon of hope again: With four goals in the last five games of the 2023/24 season, Ekitiké played a key role in the Europa League -Qualification involved. “He’s worked his way up after a difficult time. I’m extremely happy for him,” said Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche after Ekitiké’s first goal in the Bundesliga against Augsburg.
Krösche: “Ekitiké has extraordinary abilities”
It was also Krösche who raved about the Frenchman’s “extraordinary abilities” in the spring and predicted: “We’ll have a lot of fun with him in the next few years.” Eintracht’s start to the season proves Krösche right: Together with high-flyer Omar Marmoush, Ekitiké forms one of the most dangerous strike duos in the league and has already scored five times and assisted four times in eight competitive games. He last scored in the league in a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich.
A development that did not go unnoticed by Gérard Baticle, France’s U21 coach, who nominated Ekitiké for the French U21 national team in September and October. “It’s clear to me that he’s one of the best players of his generation,” he enthused.
Krösche: “Ekitiké can become a national player”
And so it seems quite possible that another of Krösche’s prophecies will come true in the coming months: “If he continues like this, then he has a good chance of becoming a French national player,” said Krösche after Ekitiké’s performance against Hoffenheim, when he scored a goal and template had shined.
The two U21 games were the first nominations for Ekitiké since 2021, when he was not used. Ekitiké was successful in both games, including last Friday against Cyprus. Not with a hoe, but that can still happen.
Editor:
Stephan Reich
Broadcast:
hr television, home game!,
10/7/24, 11:15 p.m
Those: hessenschau.de
