'I phoned him': Thierry Henry explains why he really respects Hugo Ekitike after another big Liverpool moment

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Who was your Man of the Match in Liverpool’s rout of Galatasaray? 💪 Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images Henry full of respect for Ekitike comebackGiven their comparative skillsets, Ekitike has seen plenty of comparisons to Henry since he arrived at Liverpool.The 23-year-old certainly has his predecessor’s approval, with Henry outlining his admiration for the impressive way Ekitike left Paris Saint Germain to forge a career elsewhere.“First and foremost, congratulations Hugo,” said the World Cup winner. “I don’t know if people know, but I was the coach of the [France] U21s and I phoned Hugo and he wasn’t well at the time, he wasn’t really playing.”Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Will the first or second leg be at Anfield for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with PSG?“I don’t know if you remember that, but I said he has all the attributes to be a good nine because not a lot of nines can do what he does around Europe.

I said I will follow him. “Unfortunately, I left and he went on to have an outstanding comeback in Frankfurt.

So, I have to give you your respect because you went out there to get it and I saw that dedication.”Ekitike could – and probably should – have scored far more than the 17 goals he now has this season. But, as Henry says, he is clearly a battler, and that is why Liverpool fans have warmed to him so much.Henry certainly knows his strikers, and if you’ve done enough to impress him, then you’ve clearly got something just a little bit special.