Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool and Arne Slot were dealt a huge setback this week, with confirmation that Hugo Ekitike has suffered a serious Achilles injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the season – and France’s World Cup campaign later this year. The striker was stretchered off during the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after going down off the ball.
Now Arne Slot, speaking in his pre-Everton press conference, has spoken further on the Hugo Ekitike blow and has confirmed he hasn’t had surgery yet:
“He hasn’t been operated on yet. Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away. Playing against your former club in CL quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer.”
“First thoughts are with him being out for such a long time, missing out on some many special moments. Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at start of career and so many examples of layers coming back even stronger. 100% he will be one of those say maybe this injury makes me even more stronger and more ready to play at even higher level.”
The Dutchman added on having Alexander Isak back in the run-in:
“It’s a good thing we signed two number nines. Lot of people were debating why we signed two, now it looks like a good [idea], now people are saying we should sign another in the summer.”
“Someone said to me the day after that you cannot write the script that on the day Alex is back on first start the other leaves pitch with a long-term injury. Even more a good thing that Alex is back but wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t have someone available in a certain position, such as right-back. Alex we know is not ready to play 90 yet.”
