Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitiké: "I love scoring goals"
Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitiké has said the realisation that "the real pleasure comes from scoring" has turned him into one of the Bundesliga's biggest threats in front of goal this season.
The French forward's efforts were overshadowed by the prolific Omar Marmoush as the pair had built an effective partnership for Frankfurt over much of the last year. The Egypt international has since departed for Manchester City, but Ekitiké has continued scoring, netting five times since his former teammate's winter window transfer to take his tally to a career-best 13 league goals.
"I realised I could shoot more during matches and be more dangerous like that. I want to be more direct and face goal more," Ekitiké explained in an interview with French media. "They told me that I sometimes went too far from my position by participating in build-up play too much, and that I wasn't in the zones where a forward should be. I have put that right. I try to move about the pitch less. I liked being part of play, but I have also understood that real pleasure comes from scoring goals."
Watch: Frankfurt adapting to life without Marmoush
Ekitiké initially joined Frankfurt a year ago on loan, ending a dismal six-month spell at Paris Saint-Germain during which he had barely played. The 22-year-old then made the switch permanent in April, but he has no regrets over his 18-month spell in the French capital where he mostly trained - and sometimes played - alongside Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
"They're unique players. No one plays and no one will play like them. I learned a lot watching them with regard to certain little things or how they are off the ball. Making a dummy run, then making a another run… Kylian really made an impression on me with that. It was impressive and seeing that, I said to myself that it was really that level that I wanted to reach," explained Ekitiké, who made just 33 competitive appearances for PSG.
"I trained on a daily basis with the best players in the world. I would have been the stupidest of players, the stupidest of human beings if I hadn't learned something."
Want more Bundesliga Action?
The next step is to emulate former Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani and earn a call-up to the senior France team while with the Eagles.
"He did it, so why can't I?" asked Ekitiké, who has scored twice in three U21 games for his country. "I always focus on how to do more in order to - why not? - get there one day. But we are perhaps the best country in the world, it's tough to get a place, so you have to deserve it. I see it as the grail. The French national team means everything."
Despite his impressive form, Ekitiké is convinced there is better to come. He has often said that he wants to "approach perfection". So how close is he?
"We're a long way off still. By definition, you never achieve it. I consider myself a promising player who has improved a lot, but who still has a long way to go," explained the former Reims forward, who is behind only Mbappé, former Borussia Dortmund man Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola among French players across Europe in terms of goal involvements this season.
"I'm doing well, but I am hungry to do more. I'm hungry to score, to make assists, to win. I say to myself that it would be good that one day I just step back and see myself as number one. I still have some way to go."
Related news
Bundesliga top scorer's race
Kane leads the way so far this campaign, but there is a wealth of attacking talents ready hot in pursuit...
Ekitiké: "More pressure on me after Marmoush departure"
Frankfurt's leading man spoke to bundesliga.com about his evolving role, European ambitions and more...
Frankfurt and Leverkusen go head to head
It's third against second on Saturday, but where will the key battles be fought when Eintracht Frankfurt meet Bayer Leverkusen?