Toppmöller calls for less ball tricks from Ekitiké: “Not blowing our minds.”

Speaking at his Friday press conference, Eintracht Frankfurt head-coach Dino Toppmöller called upon striker Hugo Ekitiké to deliver better footballing fundamentals. 

The fact that Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké possesses sublime skills on the ball remains beyond all doubt. Speaking to members of the assembled press corps on a Friday at Deutsche Bank Park, however, SGE trainer Dino Toppmöller implored the Frenchman to focus less on the “Harlem globetrotter ticks” and more on sound footballing fundamentals. 

Ekitiké attempted several overly slick back-heel passes in the space of a few minutes in Thursday’s Europa League win over FC Mydjylland. After the match, Eintracht sporting CEO Markus Krösche criticized the team for often not looking “serious enough” during the narrow victory. It was clear that Krösche was, in part, referring to Ekitiké’s tricks. 

“I haven’t had time to talk to Heki [Ekitiké] about it yet,” Toppmöller (confirming as much) remarked at the Friday presser, “But it’s clear that what he did with his heel passes didn’t exactly blow our minds. It’s absolutely fine to do that sometimes, but we don’t want to see it when the game is at risk.” 

“He’s entitled to make his comments,” Toppmöller said of Krösche’s comments, “It’s important what he says and how he says it. And it’s clear why he does it. He wants us to remain sharp, never to rest on our laurels, and never take anything for granted.”