Tottenham Hotspur will be gearing up to travel to Germany as their season hangs by a thread with the Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt to be decided this week. While the Bundesliga giants boast multiple quality players, one player that has been making all the noises for the right reasons this season for them is Hugo Ekitike, and Ange Postecoglou will have to keep an eye on containing him this Thursday. The young French forward has been making waves with his dynamic playing style complemented by his ability to exploit defensive weaknesses and, in turn, score regular goals.
Where does Hugo Ekitike gain one up on the opponents?
When you watch him in-game and try to pick up all the similar lines of things that he does to trouble the opponents, there comes a trend; one of his most notable traits is his ability to play between the lines as he finds pockets of space in the opposition’s defensive line and then turns into the space, making it difficult for defenders to track him. He already has an upper hand when he operates in these spaces; he can take a shot on goal or create opportunities for his teammates. And this is exactly where the North Londoners concede the first goal in the first leg.
Then comes his ability to carry the ball. Ekitike is adept at dribbling into spaces, and he does possess quick footwork to navigate through tight spaces (much like what Tottenham supporters have seen Kulusevski do during his time at N17), and this dribbling prowess not only allows him to create space for himself but also draws opponents defenders out of position. Moreover, his capacity to take on defenders in one-on-one situations is also something that has haunted a lot of defensive lines this season.
But most importantly, Ekitike has an eye for goal, particularly when it comes to shooting from half-spaces. You would see him drifting into these areas, and he can make powerful shots that catch goalkeepers off guard. This ability to strike the ball cleanly makes him a constant threat every time he gets the ball in the final third.
Postecoglou has to make a plan to limit his impact on the game
But all of his traits and attributes can be worked against. The 22-year-old is a bit inconsistent with his decision-making. While he has that knack to create goal-scoring opportunities, he could often rush into the decision. And then with all his agility, a physical pressure on him may disrupt his rhythm. Additionally, his defensive work rate is not always up to par, which can leave gaps in Frankfurt’s structure when they lose possession.
To effectively contain Ekitike, Ange Postecoglou could be looking to deploy Cristian Romero in a high-risk, high-reward role (something that the Argentine is always playing anyways). The former Atalanta man’s aggressive style of play and ability to read the game could allow him to engage with Ekitike early, not giving him that time to come into the half-spaces. However, it could leave Tottenham’s backline vulnerable if Romero is caught out of position.
Additionally, the Australian head coach could also use Van de Ven in a role that allows him to quickly close down Ekitike in more of a sweeping job if Romero gets caught out.
Furthermore, the former Celtic manager can also consider compacting the midfield into a deeper role. By having midfielders positioned closer to the defensive line, Tottenham can limit the space available for Ekitike to operate in. This compactness will force him to either drop deeper to receive the ball or attempt to break through a crowded midfield, both of which are directly against his season’s heatmap.
It could all come down to another moment of brilliance from Hugo Ekitike that could cost the Lilywhites their season and possibly Ange Postecoglou the job at hand, which makes it very important to contain him and minimise his impact on the game.
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