Arsenal
Liverpool’s big-money transfer for Hugo Ekitike might have raised eyebrows throughout Europe, however one man who isn’t stunned is Óscar García Junyent — the coach who oversaw the striker’s breakthrough in Ligue 1 and who believes the Frenchman is greater than prepared for Anfield.
García, who coached Ekitike throughout an important stage of his improvement at Stade de Reims, is satisfied that the 22-year-old has each the expertise and mentality to thrive underneath the load of expectation on Merseyside. He mentioned Ekitike “received’t be afraid to play at Liverpool, or within the Premier League, or of the competitors… or of the truth that some huge cash has been paid for his switch.” García added, “He’s satisfied he’ll be a starter wherever he goes.”
The towering striker (1.90m) made his Ligue 1 debut underneath David Guion, nevertheless it was underneath the Spaniard — previously of Brighton, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Crimson Bull Salzburg, Olympiacos, and Celta Vigo — that he actually exploded. Talking about their first encounters, Óscar recalled: “My first impression was that he was a boy with quite a lot of potential… who didn’t have many admirers on the membership. We wished to see him in pre-season as a result of we knew that if we might information him and persuade him of his potential, he might be an necessary participant.”
The 2020–21 season, which included a mortgage spell at Danish facet Vejle, proved to be a turning level. Ekitike hit 11 targets and chipped in with 5 assists in 27 appearances underneath García’s steering. The coach defined: “What we did was give him confidence, an individualised coaching plan, and we tried to educate him with movies of his idols. I bear in mind we in contrast his stats with these of gamers from groups comparable in degree to ours and he would ask us to assist him attain Mbappé’s numbers.”
That mentality, in accordance with García, has outlined Ekitike from the start. Even when the ahead earned a €28.5 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain — at a time when Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé dominated the roost — he believed he would play. “He has quite a lot of self-confidence, and that mentality has helped him lots,” mentioned Óscar. “On the time, PSG had Messi, Mbappé and Neymar and I bear in mind he informed me: ‘I’m going there to be a starter.’ That didn’t occur… however he’s not afraid of something.”
García believes that fixed starvation for extra has pushed Ekitike’s profession ahead and can serve him nicely in England. He described the brand new Liverpool ahead as a quick, skilful and clever striker who is especially harmful contained in the field. “He’s a skilful participant, very quick and clever,” he mentioned. “Contained in the field he’s decisive, he doesn’t want a lot area to complete. His biggest power is that he has a profile that matches each associative groups and those who depend on counterattacks.”
Nonetheless, there’s loads of room for improvement. Óscar identified that whereas Ekitike has scored from headers and long-range efforts, these areas nonetheless want work. “He’s very younger and nonetheless has quite a lot of room to enhance. For instance, in heading and long-distance capturing… though he has scored some targets like that.”
Apparently, the coach mentioned Ekitike will not be your basic penalty-box poacher. “He likes to be always in touch with the ball. Many occasions he feels extra snug outdoors the field than inside,” he famous.
By way of comparisons, García supplied an enchanting mix of names. “Once I coached Reims I in contrast him to Kanouté due to his physique and talent to hyperlink up play,” he mentioned. “He additionally has a few of Henry: he can play on the wing and is harmful in open areas. However above all, I’d say he has a few of Kanu. He actually jogs my memory of him: he’s obtained high quality in tight areas and tempo over lengthy distances. I’d even dare say Ekitike is a bit faster.”
Requested whether or not Ekitike can high the 22 targets and 12 assists he managed with Eintracht Frankfurt final season, Óscar was real looking in his response. “He’s not a pure goalscorer, like Haaland. Ekitike likes to create possibilities and supply assists.”
Liverpool might have splashed out a critical price to land him, however in Óscar’s eyes, they’ve introduced in a “fashionable striker” with the instruments — and the fearless mentality — to be a contemporary ahead able to make Anfield his stage for years to come back.
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