Long regarded solely for his immense potential, Hugo Ekitike, the French forward for Eintracht Frankfurt, is now truly coming into his own, sparking dreams of another Europa League title for the club.
After clinching the trophy in 2022, Frankfurt are set to face Tottenham in London for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final this Thursday.
While the team coached by Oliver Glasner, now at Crystal Palace, thrived on emotion to secure victory over Rangers in the final via penalties in Seville, this season’s Frankfurt squad presents a more cohesive unit.
With a mixture of seasoned stars such as captain Kevin Trapp, World Cup champion Mario Götze, and an exciting cast of emerging talents, the standout player for Frankfurt is undoubtedly the 22-year-old Ekitike.
After a frustrating spell at Paris Saint-Germain, where he struggled for playing time, the 1.9-metre striker from Reims in France’s Champagne region is now enjoying a purple patch in his career since joining Frankfurt in the winter transfer window of the 2023-24 season.
His unique talents were on full display during the second leg of Frankfurt’s last-16 encounter against Ajax, which ended in a 4-1 triumph for the Eagles. Ekitike showcased his skill with a slick assist for Jean-Matteo Bahoya’s opening goal, before unleashing a stunning long-range strike to secure the win midway through the second half.
His impressive hat-trick during the France U21s’ thrilling 5-3 victory over England in March further highlighted that Frankfurt, renowned for discovering top-tier strikers in recent years, have one of Europe’s most promising forward prospects in their ranks.
Stepping Out of Marmoush’s Shadow
Omar Marmoush, now with Manchester City as of January, is the latest in a line of impressive forwards from Frankfurt, following in the footsteps of Randal Kolo Muani, Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller, Andre Silva, and Ante Rebic.
With reported interest from the Premier League already surrounding Ekitike, he appears poised to be the next Eagle making a big-money move.
Having shared the pitch with superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar at PSG, opportunities for Ekitike to replicate the form that earned him a transfer from his childhood club Reims were limited.
In a conversation with UEFA back in February, Ekitike acknowledged that his time at PSG was “not the happiest moment in my life“, but he believes it was a “necessary part of my journey“.
Despite Frankfurt’s struggles in the league since Marmoush’s exit, Ekitike has embraced the added responsibility that has come his way.
In his initial six months with the club, he netted four goals in 14 appearances. This season alone, Ekitike has bagged 19 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions.
The only blemish on his record this season has been his penalty-taking, having missed two of the three he attempted. Nevertheless, Frankfurt’s decision to rely on him for penalty duties is a testament to the confidence coach Dino Toppmöller has in the young talent.
Europa League Taken Seriously Here
For a club that lacks the trophy cabinet of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, or Hamburg, Frankfurt boasts some of the most passionate supporters in Germany.
Their journey to the Europa League title in 2022 exemplified the fervour of their dedicated fans.
During the away quarter-final against Barcelona, approximately 30,000 travelling fans turned up, transforming the Nou Camp into a home ground atmosphere for Frankfurt.
This massive turnout prompted a change in Barcelona’s policy on selling away tickets, with club president Joan Laporta expressing his embarrassment, admitting, “I am very sorry… there were many fans of the other team and not many of ours.”
Ekitike expressed his amazement at Frankfurt’s connection to the Europa League, stating, “This is my first experience in the Europa League. It’s what placed the club in the spotlight.
In the big games – the atmosphere is electric. We understand that this competition is taken seriously here.“
Ekitike shared that he and the club share a “common goal” of winning the tournament this season, adding, “lifting the cup with Eintracht Frankfurt – why not?“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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