Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha back with a bang | OneFootball

It was an explosive return for Emanuel Emegha (22). The Dutchman had missed over a month with a muscular injury in what has been an injury-hit campaign for the striker, and one mired by controversy. 

Emegha has been the subject of the fans’ ire for completing a move away from RC Strasbourg Alsace in September. Although he will remain with Le Racing until the end of the season, his impending move to Chelsea has already been officialised. The timing of the announcement, as well as the striker’s recent appointment as club captain, created a rift between club, player, and fans. 

Walker on Emegha and Panichelli: ‘We’re lucky to have two of the best strikers in Europe.’

His return to action was marked by two goals in a 2-0 win over Lille OSC on Sunday. The Dutchman used his post-match interview to hit back at critics. “The time [out] was very long and I saw a lot of bullshit that people were saying in the media, but as you can see, next time, they need to talk more sh*t, then I’ll come back [even] stronger,” said Emegha.

He has since been rewarded with his first call-up to the national team, too. Strasbourg’s assistant, Justin Walker, was also full of praise for Emegha. “We’re lucky to have two of the best strikers in Europe (Emegha and Joaquín Panichelli) and I think that, for their age, who knows their potential,” he said.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle