Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong has unleashed a blistering critique of Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike, accusing the Frenchman of showing a complete lack of respect during their Europa League semi-final showdown.
Post-Match Explosion
The dramatic revelation came moments after Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga champions secured their place in the Dublin final with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at the BayArena, completing a 4-3 aggregate victory. While most players exchanged pleasantries, one interaction turned decidedly sour.
"He was disrespectful," Frimpong stated unequivocally to Dutch broadcaster RTL7. "I went to shake his hand and he didn't want to. I think that says enough about him."
From Celebration to Confrontation
The incident adds a layer of spice to what was already a emotionally charged European night. Ekitike, who came on as a second-half substitute for the injured Bradley Barcola, had been largely anonymous during the match until the dramatic closing moments.
It was the PSG striker who appeared to win a controversial 89th-minute penalty, converted by Kylian Mbappé, that briefly gave the French giants hope of a miraculous comeback. However, the late spot-kick wasn't enough to prevent Leverkusen from extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to 49 matches across all competitions.
Frimpong's Philosophical Take
Despite the personal spat, the 23-year-old Dutch international demonstrated remarkable perspective when reflecting on the bigger picture. "We are in the final, that's the most important thing," Frimpong emphasised, shifting focus to the team's historic achievement.
"We knew it would be tough, but we did it. We believed in ourselves and now we're going to Dublin." This resilience has become the hallmark of Alonso's seemingly unstoppable side.
The Road to Dublin
Leverkusen's journey to the final has been nothing short of extraordinary, maintaining their unbeaten status despite numerous close calls. Their ability to secure late goals has become legendary this season, though on this occasion they demonstrated equal fortitude in seeing out a tense finish.
The German champions will now face Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League final on May 22nd, where they'll look to complete an unprecedented treble having already secured the Bundesliga title and with the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern awaiting.
As for Ekitike and PSG, the fallout from this defeat continues beyond the scoreline, with Frimpong's comments ensuring this particular subplot will linger long after the final whistle.
