The China Mail - Ekitike has Frankfurt dreaming of Europa League repeat

Winners of the competition in 2022, Frankfurt face Tottenham in London in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.

While that side, coached by now Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, rode a wave of emotion all the way to defeating Rangers on penalties in the final in Seville, this season's Frankfurt are a more well-rounded team.

Amid a blend of established stars like captain Kevin Trapp, experienced veterans like World Cup winner Mario Goetze and an array of future stars, Frankfurt's main man is undoubtedly the 22-year-old Ekitike.

Having endured an unhappy time at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Frankfurt in the winter window in 2023-24, the 1.9-metre striker from Reims in France's Champagne region is now in sparkling form.

Nowhere was his particular set of skills more evident than in the second leg of Frankfurt's last 16 clash with Ajax, which the Eagles won 4-1.

Ekitike showed his finesse with a deft assist to set up Frankfurt's opener for Jean-Matteo Bahoya, before blasting in a long-range effort of his own to seal the result midway through the second-half.

His hat-trick in France U21's 5-3 win over England in March showed Frankfurt, a side with a great record unearthing top strikers in recent years, are in possession of one of Europe's brightest forward talents.

- Out of Marmoush's shadow -

Omar Marmoush, who moved to Manchester City in January, became the latest of a production line of talented forwards which includes Randal Kolo Muani, Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller, Andre Silva and Ante Rebic.

Already attracting reported Premier League interest, Ekitike looks set to be the next Eagle set for a big-money move.

Playing alongside Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at PSG, Ekitike had few opportunities to reproduce the form which earned him a high-profile move from boyhood club Reims.

Speaking with UEFA in February, Ekitike revealed his time with PSG was "not the happiest moment in my life", but felt it was a "necessary part of my journey".

And while Frankfurt have struggled in the league since Marmoush's departure, Ekitike has relished the additional responsibility.

In his first six months in Frankfurt, he scored four times in 14 games. This season, Ekitike has 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

The one blight on his game this season has been his record from the penalty spot.

Ekitike has missed two of the three penalties he has taken, but that Frankfurt back the youngster to be their designated man from the spot shows the trust coach Dino Toppmoeller has placed in him.

- Europa League 'taken seriously here' -

For a club who do not boast the silverware of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or Hamburg, Frankfurt are among the best supported clubs in Germany.

Their run to the Europa League title in 2022 showcased the passion of their fervent fans.

In the away quarter-final against Barcelona, an estimated 30,000 travelling fans bought tickets, making the Nou Camp feel like home for Frankfurt.

The match led to a change in how the Spanish side sold away tickets, with a "very sorry" Barcelona president Joan Laporta saying he was "embarrassed and ashamed... there were many fans of the other team and not many of ours".

Ekitike said he was taken aback by Frankfurt's affinity with the competition.

"This is my first experience of the Europa League. It's what put the club in the spotlight.

"In the big games – it's crazy. We know it's a competition that's taken seriously here."

Ekitike said he and the club have the "shared goal" of winning the competition this season, adding "lifting the cup with Eintracht Frankfurt -- why not?"

L.Kwan--ThChM