For a footballer who was on mortgage at Vejle Boldklub as just lately as 2021, is accustomed to spending time with the world’s elite attackers. He’ll share a pitch with on Sunday. He has shared a dressing room with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
It has served as an elite schooling, however Ekitike remains to be trying and studying. Whilst , Haaland can present an instance for him. Ekitike has began effectively at Anfield however he has scored six objectives for Liverpool. Haaland has 18 for Metropolis alone this season, 27 for membership and nation.
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“He’s on the listing of greatest strikers on the earth now for a couple of years, and positively somebody I’m ,” mentioned the Frenchman. “I feel if I can add slightly bit in my sport it could be from his sport. He’s in a position to do issues with out touching the ball a lot in the course of the sport, and it’s actually spectacular. So he’s positively somebody I’m .”
There may be a necessary humility to Ekitike. He was flattered that described him because the signing of the summer season within the Premier League, however there was a self-deprecating caveat. Henry was supervisor of France’s Beneath-21 group however they didn’t work collectively. “No, no, no, he didn’t decide me,” he smiled. Nor did he get carried away with the reward. “He’s an idol for us French gamers,” mentioned a striker who shares sure similarities. “However I don’t need to be an thrilling signing. I need to be participant who has had an ideal season.”
He has made a begin, aided by his classes from the famous person entrance trio who saved him out of the group. “I actually watched them rather a lot throughout my time in PSG,” he mentioned. “I’m nonetheless watching them. I attempt to take issues from the gamers I like. I like to look at and attempt to add to my sport to make me extra full.”
With Messi, it was “his imaginative and prescient. Typically I attempt to see issues earlier, earlier than I obtain the ball. With Neymar, it was most likely about some tips, like some talent and management. I took the runs of Kylian, he may do nice runs with out the ball.”
Hugo Ekitike was aided by classes from the famous person entrance trio that saved him out of the PSG group (Getty)
But, swift as Ekitike is, his personal sprints are barely slower. “He’s faster than me. I’m quick, however he is likely one of the quickest on the earth,” he mentioned. “I hope someday I get there however we’re a special sort of participant. He has rather a lot, a number of pace, I’m extra like a participant who is ready to do issues for the group.”
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His fondness for Mbappe owes one thing to his pace of thought, one thing to his presence of thoughts. Two years in the past, he was marginalised at PSG, excluded by Luis Enrique from the Champions League squad. Mbappe proved an ally. “He noticed me in a nasty place at PSG so he’s joyful for me that now issues are figuring out,” mentioned Ekitike. “It was tough on the finish. I used to be simply not enjoying. He was at all times good to me, at all times gave me recommendation.”
His path to the highest has been oblique, by way of a mortgage in Denmark after which, after leaving Paris, a restorative time with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier than his . Two years after PSG didn’t register him for continental competitors, Ekitike isn’t merely in a Champions League squad however was a part of a Liverpool group that beat Mbappe and Actual Madrid on Tuesday. They spent 20 minutes speaking after the sport. He has spent slightly time with one other elite striker, however not a lot. He and Isak have solely teamed up for six minutes towards Galatasaray, 10 towards Manchester United, 45 towards Frankfurt.
Ekitike has thus far solely performed an hour of soccer with Alexander Isak (Motion Pictures/Reuters)
They . Ekitike sounded unworried by the prospect of competitors. “I feel I’m in a position to play with any participant and we will positively play collectively,” he mentioned. “I feel we solely performed as soon as in a single half, so clearly we will’t know but.” With Isak nearing health once more, the choice rests with Arne Slot.
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And he, Ekitike smiles, is usually a demanding taskmaster. “I’d say he’s on my again, however [it’s] not a nasty factor. Perhaps typically you are feeling prefer it’s slightly bit an excessive amount of and also you need to complain, [but] it’s factor as a result of I feel if a coach doesn’t such as you, he won’t communicate to you or not attempt to get the perfect of you. I take that in a great way. On a sure day, clearly, after I go, it’s slightly bit annoying, however after I look again and watch the dialogue now we have, it’s solely good issues and it’s solely me to enhance. As a participant, typically you’re pissed, it’s annoying. I do know he desires the perfect for me and he desires the perfect for the group.”
And Slot’s recommendation? Ekitike, remembering for an ill-advised celebration, smiled: “Clearly, to maintain my shirt on.”