Hugo Ekitiké tested the patience of the Eintracht supporters for a long time. Little by little, the potential of the record purchase is becoming apparent.
Met worth seeing at FC Bayern: Hugo Ekitiké. IMAGO/Jan Huebner
A good two weeks ago, after the disappointing 3-0 loss at VfB Stuttgart, Markus Krösche’s forecast still sounded like the famous whistle in the forest. Hugo Ekitiké (21) missed two big chances and was still waiting for the first goal in the Eintracht jersey after eleven competitive appearances. There was already despair in those around him with regard to the highly talented man who had been let go from Paris St. Germain in the winter and who had initially joined his new employer with striking fitness deficiencies.
Frankfurt’s sports director directly predicted the skeptics in Stuttgart: “Next week he’ll do it.” In this particular case, Krösche accepted the risk of being seen as a nonsense afterwards. And Ekitiké impressively confirmed the trust. It was only with his debut goal against Augsburg (3:1), which was followed this Saturday at FC Bayern (1:2) by the next personal success with a dream goal to make it 1:1.
“That’s Hugo’s quality. In terms of football, he’s beyond any doubt anyway”
The way Ekitiké out-danced opponents Thomas Müller and Konrad Laimer and then duped national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in a technically sophisticated way on the inside made it clear on the big stage what those responsible for Eintracht had seen in the young man from the start, who now bears the label of “record purchase” within the club . Last week, Frankfurt exercised the purchase option and gave the attacker a contract that runs until 2029. Including the loan fee paid in advance for the current season, the transfer fee amounts to just under 20 million euros.
The “great potential” that Krösche raved about when signing him was now clearly evident in the remarkable event in Munich. Krösche, in turn, commented relatively soberly: “Of course I’m pleased that he’s scored twice in a row. That’s Hugo’s quality. In terms of football, he’s beyond any doubt and is now in a good state of fitness.”
Firmly scheduled to be in the starting eleven again against Leverkusen
The boss suggests that going the full distance would not have been a problem for Ekitiké. Reason for the substitution after almost 70 minutes: A blow to the thigh, which apparently did not have any serious consequences. As of Monday, the lanky Frenchman is expected to be back in team training later this week and will be in the starting line-up again on Sunday against Bayer Leverkusen. Maybe the already established title holder is just the right time for Ekitiké’s next little masterpiece.
2024-04-29 13:21:10
#Eintracht #Frankfurt #Ekitikés #confirmation #big #stage
