Q&AHugo Ekitike interview: Why now is the 'perfect' time for his move to Liverpool
Hugo Ekitike feels the timing of his move to Liverpool is perfectly aligned with his ambition to prove himself at the highest level.
The 23-year-old forward is the latest addition to the Premier League champions’ squad after his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt was agreed earlier this week.
Ekitike trained with his new teammates for the first time in Hong Kong on Friday morning and then returned to the team hotel to sit down for his first interview as a Reds player.
Read a full transcript of Liverpoolfc.com’s chat with the France U21 international below.
Hugo, congratulations, you are a Liverpool player now. Can you tell us how that feels?
I feel very proud. Obviously it’s a big, big club. I’m just excited, I’m a bit like a kid. I’ve been dreaming to come and play in the Premier League. And to play for Liverpool is a big, big good feeling for me. I just can’t wait to start to play games and to win trophies.
Why was this the right move for you?
I think that was the right moment. I came to the Bundesliga hungry, I wanted to show that I’m a good player and I can make the difference on the pitch. I think I did well last season. Now, I feel ready to make a bigger step and to play on the highest level, to improve myself, to see what I can do. That’s why I think it’s the right timing for me and the perfect moment to come here.
You mentioned timing, can you talk to us about the last 48 hours? It seemed to happen very quickly – you’re on an aeroplane, you’re here meeting your teammates and then you’re training the next day…
Yeah, obviously things go quick. I signed my contract and I came straight here. Obviously it was a long flight but I was really excited to come here and meet everybody. It was quick but I enjoyed every moment I had. I live day by day so I enjoy every time I have here. I’m just excited.
It was a nice greeting that you managed to watch a little bit of training and then met your teammates on the pitch on Thursday…
It was, I think, the perfect way to meet people, even the legends of the club. It was just a perfect moment for me at the stadium with a lot of fans. That was huge and I’m very grateful for this.
Then your first training session where you get the kit on and join in. What was the quality like? What sense did you get?
You see the players on the team, obviously we have so much quality in this team. It’s just a pleasure to play with such good players. I want to do more to be at the same level and even better.
You join at such an exciting time. Liverpool are already Premier League champions and they’re in a position now where they are seriously intent on building on that platform…
Yeah, obviously Liverpool are already on the top, but we have still things to reach. That’s why we want to be the best and need to improve every season to go and reach the success. It’s going to be a difficult season and a long season, but we have the quality to reach everything I think.
You are one of seven signings this summer. The signings, as you’ll have seen from the fans’ reaction, are so exciting. You must be so excited to play with them as well?
That’s huge obviously. This summer transfer window was great for the club, they bring so much quality. I think the team will be better, I’m sure about that. That’s why the fans are pretty happy.
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You had 17 wonderful months at Eintracht Frankfurt. It was initially a loan and then a permanent move – it looked like a club that was tailor-made for you at that time in your career?
I’m really grateful to them. I could express myself. I found family there, really nice people. They took time, they have been patient with me. I made mistakes also on the pitch, and I could improve. That’s the best way to learn and become a better footballer and better person, because I think I have been growing on both sides. I’m just really, really grateful and they’ll stay always in my heart.
Supporters have been getting excited by watching clips of your goals and style of play – where did that ‘street footballer’ element of your game come from?
I guess from the street! I always have been playing outside with my friends at school and I have been watching a lot. My favourite player is a player who likes to have the ball at their feet and does some skills, show on the pitch, and I think that’s why I always like to play with the ball and do some skills when I face other players. It’s just my way to play.
Arne Slot is your new boss. How key was the first conversation you had with him in terms of you realising Liverpool was the right club for you?
We had a very good first discussion together. Obviously the coach is very human so we could talk not only about football [but] about everything. I find him very interesting and I was very pleased to see what I can do with him because I think he is a really nice guy and I can still improve and progress with him. So, yeah, he is a really good coach and good person first, so that’s why he made me want to come here.
He has a track record of making good players even better. Is that an attraction for you too?
Yeah, of course, of course. When you see a coach that can make and improve players, you know you want to be with him and progress because you know he can make you go to the next step. And if you want to go higher I think it’s the right choice to do.
You’re a versatile forward. Do you feel equally comfortable playing anywhere across the front line?
I mean, I do what the coach asks me to do, but yeah, I like to do everything. I can’t define myself only as a striker [who likes] to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play [and] create also. So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker and I think that’s what makes me versatile, but you know now in this football you need to adapt.
Do you remember watching Liverpool on TV when you were younger and does this move bring back those memories?
To be honest, I couldn’t watch because I couldn’t see on TV, because you need to pay and I couldn’t pay. But I have been watching football since I was a kid and clips on YouTube and I would be dreaming to play in the Premier League, so that’s just huge and I am grateful.
You posted a photo on social media recently of you in a 1990s Liverpool away shirt with Steven Gerrard’s name on the back. What is the story behind that?
The story behind it is that I was going on vacation and obviously I had some training [sessions]. I like vintage jerseys and my brother went to the shop and bought that one and obviously you know the next part of the story: now I am here! He is maybe the first legend here at Liverpool so yeah, big up to him and it’s a very good jersey.
Virgil van Dijk coined a phrase, ‘It was always Liverpool,’ when signing his new contract a few months ago. Is that something that resonates with you, in that this was always going to be the best club for you?
Yeah, for me that was the right choice. The way the club works, what I have heard about the people here, the atmosphere, the fans, the stadium, the way they improve players, already champions of the Premier League. It’s the best team in England and one of the best teams in the world so yeah, it was Liverpool. Since I talked to the coach, in my head I was sure about it.
Have you thought yet about what the noise will be like when you score your first goal at Anfield?
Yeah, Anfield is mad! I can’t wait to play there. Obviously I don’t even start to think about what it is to score a goal there. I think I will start to think when we come and we are going to play there, but it’s huge. I have seen it on TV and it’s crazy: crazy stadium and crazy fans, so I think it’s going to be amazing.
What is your message for the Liverpool supporters watching or reading this interview?
Hey fans! Here [is] Hugo Ekitike, new Scouser! I can’t wait to win and score goals for you and just have success, and have fun in the stadium and to see you.
Finally, you’ve been smiling throughout this chat. You must be so happy to be here as a Liverpool player?
Yeah, I am really happy. I think it goes really quick and you need to realise that you are here and with [new] people and that’s, I think, what I am doing at the moment. It always takes a bit of time but to come in that way, to Liverpool and to the Premier League, has always been my dream, so also I am very happy and proud of myself.