2023-05-21 01:59:38
DECRYPTION – At the very least disappointing for his first Parisian campaign, the ex-Rémois must seize his chance at the end of the season.
«I play, I have confidence, I score, I chain“, smiled Hugo Ekitike at the start of the year after three goals in a row, plus another just before the World Cup. Words that have not aged very well…”Nothing more to say, I must continue like this“, he added, him that Kylian Mbappé quickly took under his wing on the banks of the Seine. Except that it hadn’t really continued like that… Since these rowdy declarations and… symbolic of a state of mind that could have irritated, the native of Reims has no longer found the net. Nothing at all. In fact, he only rarely impressed during his short and rare outings on the meadow. Tasteless at best, annoying at worst. Not to mention his exits not always well felt on social networks … So well on the rumors of departure were quick to flourish, while the PSG still has to settle its purchase option (36 M €).
Nevertheless, between mediocre statistics (4 goals and 4 assists in 30 matches), behavior that leaves something to be desired and overall average performance, with a big tendency to complicate life and take oneself for another, number 44 looks uncannily like a flop. For a time, we no longer saw any reason to imagine seeing him play regularly at the end of the season, despite Neymar Jr’s withdrawal and the absence of an alternative behind Kylian Mbappé and Leo Messi. “There is no problem between Hugo and me. Obviously he is not happy with this situation but he works a lot in training“confided Galtier in mid-April, when the unofficial look-alike of future NBAer Victor Wembanyama had just spent three games without taking off from the bench and before a useless entry during the rout against Lorient (1-3).
Never two without three against Auxerre
And then there was the suspension of Leo Messi, which allowed him to find a starting place in Troyes (1-3). Not brilliant, buthe was very useful on a collective level and his positioning, very fair technically, he put in a lot of effort and worked for the team», as Galtier had indicated. And to add:He had this opportunity. He captured it very well“. The premature return of the “Pulga”, however, did not send him back to the bench. Exit the 3-5-2, return of the 3-4-3. Ekitike chained against Ajaccio (5-0). Again, not brilliant, but the interested party, author of a decisive pass, “helped free Leo and fix Ajaccio’s defense which gave plenty of space and freedom for Kylian“. Never two without three this Sunday (9 p.m.), during the 36th day of Ligue 1, in Auxerre? “It is most likely to start“, Indicates the Parisian coach, evoking tactical considerations (“It’s good to have a second real attacker in the game in order to free Leo“), but not only. “Above all, it is Hugo’s work that has started the last two matches“, he promises.
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A job that has sometimes left something to be desired, even if Christophe Galtier found extenuating circumstances for the young (20) French striker, author of 11 goals in 26 matches in 2021-22, with the SDR. “It arrived late, it took time. Could I have integrated it before? I think I integrated him when he showed me in the sessions that he was there. He had a blow of less well at a time on a mental plan. It was difficult for him. Working, watching what he was doing in the sessions and working associations, that’s it. I’m happy with what he’s doing“Explains the 56-year-old technician, who will have multiplied the patterns throughout the season, from the initial 3-4-3 to the 4-4-2 flat or in a diamond, through the 3-5-2. All while Christophe Galtier often had to do without his supposedly magical trio, the “MNM”. “Unfortunately, with the World Cup and injuries, we couldn’t take advantage of it throughout the season. The regret is not having had this attacking trio in the decisive matches“, he slips.
Hugo Ekitike started for the second time in a row against Ajaccio (5-0). ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP
I told him that I had some responsibility but so did he.
Christophe Galtier, on Hugo Ekitike’s low playing time
A trio that left only the crumbs to others, especially Ekitike, at the start of the season. Clad in a “absolute confidence in (him)“, the Parisian striker has a good time. His non-participation in the match in Reims marked a turning point. “He had taken a blow to morale“, admitted Galtier at the time, he who has not always been in favor of cajoling Ekitike, quite the contrary. “I told him that I had a share of the responsibility but so did he“, had struck “Galette” about a “talented player who needs to make up for his lack of competitive playing time in training», which has not always been the case, it is clear. “He had let go at that time and it can be understood“, said Galtier again in recent months, evoking later a boy”very mature and structuredafter a text explanation between four eyes. The weeks that followed showed that the building was fragile, while Ekitike promised mountains and wonders. “I said that when I scored, there would be plenty of goals. You will see for the second part of the season“, he was amused. We haven’t seen anything. The change is now ?
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In any case, Hugo Ekitike must not miss the opportunity to show that he has his place at Paris Saint-Germain. Probably not in the shoes of a holder, while the capital club is already ready to spend big next summer in the offensive sector given the caliber of the tracks mentioned (Osimhen, Kane, Bernardo, Kolo Muani…) . He still has three matches left to score goals… and points in the eyes of his leaders and in particular Luis Campos. We would talk about Galtier, but his future should not be written in Paris. Three matches to erase a season in the form of failure? Do not dream, but it can help restore a little hope… or not. In any case, the latest echoes suggest that Ekitike wants to stay and win at Paris Saint-Germain, like Foot Market .
Paris aims for the title and Auxerre, the maintenance
In the meantime, PSG are not playing for cheap in this hectic end of the season behind the scenes and delicate on the ground, even if the successes in Troyes and against Ajaccio have lowered the level of pressure. There is indeed a title to look for. It will perhaps be for this Sunday, in Auxerre, a team which remains on seven matches without defeat at home and which plays its skin in Ligue 1.A team will fight for the maintenance and we, for the title“Summarizes Galtier, noting”a big general remobilizationafter Lorient. “As I often tell my players, you shouldn’t count on those who are behind, especially Lens, who won’t drop a lot of points between now and the end of the championship in my opinion… It’s up to us to to do the job, to perform“, insists the native of Marseille. This applies to everyone, including Hugo Ekitike, back at the heart of the game and who must now raise his level after two diligent but insufficient outings. Until now, he had the excuse of the lack of rhythm. Excuse who will not protect him forever, it’s very clear…
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