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For a footballer who was most recently on loan at Vejle Boldklub until 2021, hugo akitike Used to spending time with the world’s elite raiders. he will share a pitch with erling holland On Sunday. He has shared the dressing room with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
This has served as a specific education, but Akitike is still watching and learning. even as Liverpool wants to beat Manchester CityHolland can provide an example for that. Akitike has made a good start to life at Anfield but has conceded six goals for Liverpool. Haaland has 18 for City alone this season, 27 for club and country.
“He’s been on the list of the best strikers in the world for a few years now, and of course I’ve been keeping an eye on him,” said the Frenchman. “I think if I can add something to my game it would be from his play. He’s able to do things without touching the ball much during the game, and that’s really impressive. So he’s definitely someone I’m paying attention to.”
Ekitike is an essential delicacy. he was happy about this Thierry Henry He was described as a summer signing in the Premier League, but there was a self-deprecating caveat. Henry was the manager of the France under-21 team but they did not work together. “No, no, no, she didn’t choose me,” he smiled. Nor was he impressed by the praise. “He’s a role model for us French players,” said one striker who shares some similarities. “But I don’t want to be an exciting signing. I want to be a good player who has a great season.”
They have made a start with the help of lessons learned from the superstar front trio who kept them out of psg Team. “I really watched him a lot during my time at PSG,” he said. “I’m still watching them. I try to pick up things from players I admire. I love watching and I try to add something to my game to make myself more complete.”
With Messi, it was “his vision. Sometimes I try to see things before I get the ball. With Neymar, it was probably about some tricks, like some skill and control. I took Kylian’s runs, he could make great runs even without the ball.”
Yet, as fast as Akitike is, his own pace is a bit slow. “He’s faster than me. I’m faster, but he’s one of the fastest players in the world,” he said. “I hope to get there one day but we’re a different kind of player. He’s got a lot, a lot of pace, I’m more of a player who’s able to do something for the team.”
His admiration for Mbappé is partly due to his speed of thinking, partly due to his presence of mind. Two years ago, he was marginalized at PSG, left out of the Champions League squad by Luis Enrique. Mbappé proved to be an ally. “He saw me in a bad situation at PSG, so he is happy for me that things are going well now,” Ekitike said. “It was difficult in the end. I wasn’t even playing. He was always good to me, always giving me advice.”
His route to the top has been indirect, through loans in Denmark and then, after leaving Paris, before spending a spell with Eintracht Frankfurt. £69 million transfer to LiverpoolTwo years after PSG did not register him for the continental competition, Ekitike is not only in the Champions League squad but was also part of the Liverpool team that beat Mbappe and Real Madrid on Tuesday. They spent 20 minutes talking after the game. He has spent some time with another elite striker, but not much. He and Isak have only teamed up for six minutes against Galatasaray, 10 minutes against Manchester United, 45 minutes against Frankfurt.
They There may be rival or double dutyEkitaik didn’t seem worried by the prospect of competition. “I feel like I’m capable of playing with any player and we can definitely play together,” he said. “I think we’ve only played once in a half, so obviously we can’t know yet.” Isak is close to fitness again, so the decision depends on Arne Slot.
And that, smiles Ekitike, can be a demanding task. “I would say he’s on my back, but [it’s] Not a bad thing. Sometimes you may feel that this is too much and you may want to complain, [but] That’s a good thing because I think if a coach doesn’t like you, he won’t talk to you or try to get the best out of you. I take it in stride. On a certain day, obviously, when I go, it’s a little annoying, but when I look back and see the discussions we had, it’s only good things and it’s only me who has to improve. As a player, sometimes you get angry, it’s annoying. I know he wants the best for me and he wants the best for the team.”
And slot advice? Ekitike, I miss you his red card against southampton To an ill-advised celebration, smiled: “Obviously, to keep my shirt on.”