Hugo Ekitike opens up on how Liverpool’s forward line works

Hugo, Patrick, good to meet you. How's things? How's Liverpool life? What have you had three months now? I would say great. I think I settled in well. I have good teammates. It's a top football club. So yeah, I would say life is great. We can see that you obviously made a really fast start on the pitch. What about off it? How big a change is that? The bits we don't see, you know, having to uproot your family, find a new home, all that. How difficult is that? I think it hasn't been difficult for me because, as I said, I found my house quick. I joined a team in China and the boys helped me. I think my whole life is kind of good here. I really enjoy my life here and football also. Nice place, nice home that you found? Yeah, very nice. Of course. Look, so here you are, a Premier League footballer, a Liverpool footballer now, but where did it begin for you? How did it start? What do you mean? Yeah, in life, basically. So I know you're from Reims or what would you call it? Reims in French? It started when I was four and a half, five. So who's the first person to throw you a football then? I was like, I don't know how to say it, you know, from my hood. I was somewhere else, like when all the kids stay. My mum was working and then... What, like a childcare? Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And yeah, basically someone was working there, a guy named Rodolphe and he went to my mum because I was playing just for fun. And he went to my mum and he asked if I could come to do, not a test, but yeah, just play football. And then I went, my mum brought me and I just loved playing football there and that's where it starts for me. Football is just my passion since I started there. Like I just kept playing football. It's amazing how many players, though, have a person, you know, like this guy from childcare, Rodolphe, you said, who just someone who, because he maybe saw some talent in you or saw that you enjoyed kicking the ball, he puts your life on a whole new pathway. Yeah, I feel like my mum always told me that I always liked to play with balls when I was a baby. Honestly, I don't remember, but yeah, like I just love playing with ball and yeah, probably so something on me. I think at that time I was not playing for like talent or quality. I was just having fun and that's the most important for me. And big family, happy family. I saw another interview where you talked about seeing France win the World Cup. I think you said with all your cousins, I think your brother's involved in your career now. Tell us a bit about that. I have a really big family. Obviously, I'm close to them. They come often here, you know, to bring a little bit of company. Because you're not feeling too lonely. But yeah, my family is around me in every way and yeah, they just help me in everything. It can be like my stuff, football, life outside. And yeah, for me it's the most important because I've always been with them ups and downs. So yeah, they helped me a lot. So from that kid who just loved kicking a ball around, what was the big breakthrough moment, would you say? The big break? Yeah, big breakthrough moment. So maybe the moment where you realised you had some talent. Maybe let's put it like that. I always felt like when I was playing that I was a good player. I have good ideas on the pitch. But I felt that I was good when I was playing in the second team in Reims. I think I was like 16, 17 there. And I thought that I could play, obviously not the highest level, but a higher level when you start to play and face adults and grown guys. And I felt that. That was like my first duels, my first game against a good opponent, I would say. And I saw that I have the quality to make it. Did you think, did people tell you that you could be a Liverpool level player, a PSG level player, a France international level player? Or did that come kind of a bit later? I think I always had a coach that told me that I had a lot of qualities, but there was like a scare, I would say, a little bit. About me losing my mind, maybe going too fast. I think they always tried to humble me, to stay consistent, to keep working. And then my first step in the big club was in PSG. Obviously, it didn't work that way, but I've learned a lot. And in my mind, I was sure that I had the quality to play in the highest level. I just needed to improve and to show that I can be there and play. Something I thought interesting about when you went to PSG, because obviously one of the stories around you signing for Liverpool is the competition for places, particularly with Alex Isaac. But actually, when you went to PSG, you joined the PSG of Messi and Neymar and Mbappé. So you're obviously not afraid of a bit of competition, because that must have been... I mean, you know you're going to have some minutes there on the bench, right? But you're a younger player then and you're expecting to kind of learn your trade, I guess. That's the point. I think I was... Yeah, I first came here and I think I was like with the best player probably in history. So obviously, competition was even more tough for me. It was difficult to get minutes and consistency in playing game time. But yeah, I think it was like a process. And now being here, more confident, more strong in my mind, makes me compete better. But also, I don't think it's the right word because we play for the same team. Obviously, there's only a few places on the pitch, but we play for the same team. So we just grow old together and share the pitch. And we just push each other to get better. And yeah, that's how I see competition. What's your feeling then? Is your feeling that it can all work together? Because you look at it from the outside and you think, you know, in whichever arrangement, but Ekotike, Isak, Salah, Verts... For an opposition fan or player, that's terrifying. For a Liverpool fan, that's so exciting. Do you feel like as you work together, get to know each other better, that that can work? Or is it just in a high-quality squad? There's going to be times when each of you is not in the starting eleven. I think it takes time to see the quality. Because at the end of the day, for the new players, we all come from different clubs. So we have to find links, play together. And I think it makes time to have the perfect team in terms of playing and collective stuff. So I think, yeah, it can work definitely. But we need to share the pitch together, train, game together. And then I think it will get better for sure. Because in this kind of club, you have only players with a lot of qualities you can adapt. And yeah, it will take time. But I'm sure that it will work. What does it take with any player to build a connection? Is it just time? Just getting to understand someone? It depends. Sometimes it works like you have an easy connection with people and it's more easy. But sometimes it's just spending time on the pitch and get to know the other guy, what he likes, how he likes to run in the channel, how he likes the ball. If he likes running behind, come play and link up. So yeah, I think it's just time for some people. And some people have just that connection straight. Going back to the summer, I had the sense from you, even though there were certainly one other club interested, that the minute Liverpool came in for you, that it was only Liverpool for you, that you wanted that straight away. How was it from your side? Obviously, when they came to me, I was sure. Obviously, I had a talk with my family and my brothers. And we see what was the best for me. I think in terms of identity, work ethic, it's just like a club to me to keep progressing, keep improving myself. Like a serious club with big values, great supporters, top stadium. So I think it was just... It is the right place for me and I'm definitely sure it's the right place for me. Do you remember as a kid, we talked about it earlier, that kid who started kicking the ball around in childcare, when you first heard of Liverpool, when you first knew about them? I guess that's maybe a little bit later in your life. Yeah, it was later. I can't lie because I didn't know about football clubs when I was young. I first started to watch football on clips and they were my favourite players back in the day. Who was that? I know Henry was one of them, who were your favourite players? I have a few. I like to watch Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema. That's a few players. I would say, you know, when you're a kid, you just like all the big players, all the stars. Like you kind of look at them like, wow. So yeah, I love to watch them. And yeah, I think when I was like 13, I put my eyes more into football. I started to learn about Liverpool, the big teams in England, big teams in Spain. And that's where I put my eyes. So two of the guys you mentioned there, Messi and Neymar, we've mentioned it already. But what is that like then when you turn up at PSG and they're your teammates? That must be surreal, like crazy. Yeah, I think when I first signed and I was going into my first training, then I was so... Nervous? So then, not nervous because I'm not a nervous person, but I was like, yeah, I've just been watching them my whole life and now I'm here. But at the end of the day, you know, they're just players. And that's what I've learned there is that they're players just like me. Obviously, that's greatness, but they're just players. And for me, it was just enjoying being in training with them, game and just watch them and learn. Have you seen that crazy stat about you? That you're the first player in Liverpool's history to score his first six goals, each on a different day of the week? Oh, yeah. Have you seen that? So the Palace goals Sunday, obviously the Bournemouth goals on a Friday. Every goal you've scored so far has been on a different day of the week. The only day you've not scored on is a Thursday. Do we play on Thursday? Well, I looked ahead, actually. You've got Leeds on New Year's Day, which is a Thursday. So that's your day. You've got to score that day and complete the set. Anyway, it doesn't matter much, does it? But it was a funny one, really. You've obviously not heard that. I didn't know I said that record. It's not a real record, but I take it. King of weird records. And on a more serious note, why do you think, because I'm not talking about any specific player here, but I think a lot of new players to the Premier League, maybe because it's so physical, find it hard for a little while. You've settled straight away. You think about that Palace game and the Community Shield, your first Premier League match. You looked at home comfortable with the pace of it straight away. Why do you think? I think if you ask the coach, he will tell you that it's not that good. But for myself and obviously from where I'm from, obviously it's good, but you know, it's consistency. It just starts. It's a long season, so I just have to keep doing it. Yeah, it's just me and the energy I put in the game, because obviously it's a different league. The intensity is way higher, I would say. Especially when you're going through two or three games a week with the Champions League, it's very intense. But I just get better. I feel in my body that I adapt. I can run more with more intensity. And I think when I put all these things in my game, I would just look like a better player and I would be able to do more things on the pitch. Why is the coach saying it's not that good? He's not still angry about Southampton, is he? No. I'm joking, I'm joking. I think they want the best for me. And I guess you want that, right? A guy who keeps driving you on to make you better. Sometimes it's annoying. But yeah, they want the best for me. I know they push me hard. I know they always tell me that it's not enough and I can do more for the team. That's what I want. I just want to be the best version of myself. And I know if I'm the best version of myself, I can have a good impact and help the team. I've got a couple more questions. How difficult was the losing run that the team went on? And do you feel after the last couple of results that you've come out the other side of it now? I would say no. Because we're Liverpool. Obviously, we were going through a difficult period. But I think all the teams have. Sometimes you have that period where you start to lose games. You feel a little bit less good. But I think we handled it really good. Obviously, it was difficult. We just stick together, talk to each other. It's not perfect now. But at least when we go in the game, I can feel that the boys give 100%, even more than 100% of themselves. And obviously, when you watch the last two games, it was not our best football. But just in terms of energy and the pressure we put on the opponents, we are a different team to face. So we just have to keep going on that way. How big is Sunday for you and for Liverpool? There's loads of little bits to it, isn't there? I mean, I know you've got a lot of admiration for Haaland. You've got a couple of old teammates in the opposition, in Marmouche and Donnarumma. So how big is this for Liverpool, but also for you personally? It's the game you love to play. Obviously, only big players on the pitch. Good stadium. Yeah, it's like a great game of Premier League. You just want to be on that game and doing good things. So it's the kind of game I love to play. I love to prepare. And yeah, on my mind, I set my mind to be ready for that day. And I hope the win is going to be for Liverpool. Only big players, and you're one of them. Good to know you. Thank you.