Hugo Ekitike received a disappointing rating from French media after struggling to replicate his strong Liverpool form on the international stage. Since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, Ekitike has made an impressive start, with his only blemish being a silly red card for removing his shirt in celebration during the Carabao Cup match against Southampton.
His strong performances earned him his first senior call-up from France manager Didier Deschamps last month. After coming on as a substitute against Ukraine and Iceland, Ekitike was given a starting spot in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, partnering Kylian Mbappé in attack.
Mbappé extended his scoring run to 10 consecutive matches, netting his 13th goal in 14 appearances this season as France won 3-0. His brilliant solo effort brought him closer to Olivier Giroud’s national team record. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thauvin also scored as France secured their third win in Group D. However, Ekitike, replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 79th minute, had a quieter match compared to Mbappé.
As a result, Ekitike received a harsh 4/10 rating from French outlet L’Equipe, who described his performance as lacking end product despite his effort and energy. The report mentioned that while he made good movements, his shooting was inaccurate, with one attempt hitting the post. The only player rated lower than Ekitike was Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who got a 3/10 for a poor performance.
On the other hand, La Depeche gave Ekitike a more generous 5.5/10, acknowledging his contribution to the opening goal and his close chances, including a powerful shot that hit the post and a creative backheel attempt. Despite this, most of the French team earned modest ratings, with Mbappé leading with 7.5/10.
Deschamps, who has been tracking Ekitike for some time, has spoken highly of his potential, especially after his successful season at Liverpool. The manager praised Ekitike’s progress but noted the competition for spots in the French squad. Ekitike will hope to make a bigger impact in France’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, starting with their match against Iceland on Monday. Meanwhile, he will also aim to secure his spot in Liverpool’s starting lineup after being benched for their recent defeat against
Chelsea.
Leave a Reply