“I’ve arrived” | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitiké on feeling at home at Eintracht, the importance of the clash with Leipzig and wanting to “give back love and trust” through his performances.

Hugo Ekitiké on …

… the final game of the season against Leipzig: “Our last game is coming up – it’s very important for the club. We’re at home in front of our fans, we want to give 100 per cent and get all we can from the game. Everyone needs to give every last drop of sweat.”

… his season: “I was made to feel very welcome by the team and I’m very happy. I feel the trust and love from our fans, which all has an impact on my performances. I’ve spoken a lot with people at the club and feel like I’ve arrived. The celebration with the hat after the game in Mönchengladbach was a demonstration of the fact that I feel at home here and wanted to thank the fans. I work on improving every day.”

… his fitness: “I obviously needed time at first, which is normal when you haven’t played in a while. There are also several differences between Ligue 1 in France and the Bundesliga – a different intensity, lots of high-intensity runs, and you always have to be prepared to put in a lot of effort. You need to get used to that – in matches and in training.”

… moving to Frankfurt: “It’s a very good fit. I find myself identifying more and more with the club and understand the fans’ expectations. It was a journey into the unknown at first, but speaking to former players gave me an idea of what to expect. It’s great here. Everyone’s very friendly, kind and always listens to me. That’s why I always want to give 100 per cent on the pitch in order to give back that love and trust.”

… EURO 2024 and the national team: “I’ll obviously follow the Euros. I generally watch a lot of football in my free time. I dream of playing for France, but I still have a long way to go. I have to perform well here in Frankfurt.”