Emre Can Under Fire: A Dortmund Dilemma
Well, well, well, if it isn’t our dear friend Emre Can, who seems to think football is about as easy as playing Fortnite on easy mode! The criticism swirling around him is once again picking up speed, leaving BVB coach Nuri Sahin to defend his captain with all the desperation of a cat trying to cover up in a bed of sandpaper. But how long can he keep pulling that off? Let’s dive in, shall we?
The Game Against St. Pauli: A Mixed Bag
In the recent shock victory against St. Pauli, which, spoiler alert, wasn’t as shocking to the fans as Can’s first touch, he managed to produce a performance that was about as consistent as a toddler’s nap schedule. Sure, he had some zanily heroic tackles—but let’s be honest, he also displayed some hair-raising ball losses that would make a horror movie director proud. It was like watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat, only for the rabbit to run off with the hat!
Substituted in the 69th minute for Felix Nmecha, Can left the field with a look that said, “Is it too late to change my career to DJing?” BVB reporter Oliver Müller noted that Can’s problem is he just tries too darn hard at things he isn’t particularly good at — like creative playmaking. Let’s face it, Emre; throwing in a random Nutmeg here and there doesn’t make you the next Messi!
Criticism: Justified or Excessive?
Can and criticism have become like peanut butter and jelly—inseparable. Ever since he donned the black-and-yellow, the relentless chatter about his performance has echoed louder than a Lee Evans routine at the O2. It’s like he’s got a personal popcorn machine for all the negativity that comes his way. And just when he thought he was taking a break, along comes the captain’s armband, accelerating the scrutiny to ludicrous levels!
Playing with the Ball: Where It All Falls Apart
Now, here’s the juicy bit. According to the sporty sages at the Spotify podcast “The Dortmund Week,” Can’s problems are magnified against teams that don’t like to attack. You know, the type of teams that just sit back and enviously watch the ball as if it were a ray of sunshine hitting them on a cold winter day. But when the competition revs up, and they face more aggressive opponents, Can rises to the occasion—like Batman but without the cool gadgets.
Defensive Positioning: A Creative Mess
Supporters are left wondering: is it time for Sahin to put Can on the bench and call in the cavalry, or does he stick with him through thick and thin? The consensus among reporters seems divided. Could it be that Can needs a serious chat about his role? He’s more suited to serving as the ‘classic clearer,’ but with more flair than a disco ball. Müller aptly labels this a “structural problem” for Dortmund, noting a lack of a purely defensive player in their midfield. Kind of like trying to build a house without a solid foundation. Good luck with that!
Sahin’s Dilemma: Bench Warmer or Warrior?
The crunch time is near. This Tuesday, Sahin faces the envious challenge of a Champions League rematch against Real Madrid. With all the spotlight on Can, you’ve got to wonder if he’ll rise to the occasion or crumble like a cheap deck of cards. Can must focus and tap into his defensive strengths—forget the creative nonsense. The fans don’t need to see a circus; they need someone who can do the groundwork, the gutter work, the tough stuff that nobody else wants to do!
And after facing those mighty Royals? A mandatory match against FC Augsburg awaits, and Sahin will need to ask himself, once again: how long can I stick with a captain struggling under the expectations? The hamster is back on the wheel, folks—let’s see if he can outrun the critics!
So, until then, keep your eye on Emre Can. Will he adapt and dazzle, or is it time for the fiery captaincy saga to take a new twist? Stay tuned!
Criticism of Emre Can is picking up speed again. BVB coach Nuri Sahin continues to stick by his captain. But for how much longer? SPORT1 reporter Manfred Sedlbauer and BVB reporter Oliver Müller discuss this in the SPORT1 podcast “The Dortmund Week”.
The shock victory (2:1) against St. Pauli was grist for the mill of critic Emre Can. The BVB captain suffered hair-raising ball losses several times and enabled the promoted team to get into dangerous finishing situations.
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Can also had some good tackles and ball wins, but the balance was not right at all. The result: In the 69th minute of the game, the 30-year-old was substituted and replaced by Felix Nmecha.
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“This is Emre Can’s old problem. Since he’s been in Dortmund, he’s wanted too much. He always wants to do things that he isn’t very good at, such as creative game structure, and constantly interprets his role differently. If he had greater positional discipline, he would help the team more,” says BVB reporter Oliver Müller.
Criticism of Emre Can justified?
Can and criticism. This has been going hand in hand since he moved to BVB over four years ago. The discussion about the midfielder keeps popping up. A few weeks ago, before the premier class game in Bruges, the European Championship driver defended himself and admitted that he sometimes felt “unfairly treated”.
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Since he was appointed captain last summer, the negative voices have been heard even louder and more regularly. For SPORT1-Reporter Manfred Sedlbauer can “often come off too badly. Commitment and passion are almost always right for him.” Nevertheless, the insider also notes: “His playing deficits are often clearly visible, as against St. Pauli.”
Can’s weak point: Playing with the ball. “If he concentrates exclusively on his defensive tasks and leaves the creative development to his colleagues who can do it better, such as Pascal Groß, he cuts a much better figure,” advises Sedlbauer.
Can with problems in the game structure
This is exactly where the problem lies for the two podcasters. Can is often convincing against strong opponents who have a lot of possession and challenge Dortmund defensively. However, it is completely different against defensive opponents, against whom BVB and therefore also the captain have to play the game.
“Last year in the semi-final against Paris he played a world-class game. “He cleared everything defensively,” Müller remembers.
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Sedlbauer throws out the theory: “According to this, Can would have to play against offensively strong opponents and take a break against weaker ones.”
Sahin lets Sabitzer fidget and trusts Can
This season, Sahin mostly relied on the six-man duo Can and Groß. It seems that Sahin definitely doesn’t want to miss out on the 33-year-old Groß. “The pass-proof strategist is great. “He’s the one who has an eye for the game,” said Müller, emphasizing the importance of the national player.
Can can also play alongside Groß because the BVB coach is still sticking to the idea of Marcel Sabitzer in the unpopular, half-right position. The Austrian, who often impressed in the left midfield position in the ÖFB team, was one of Dortmund’s best in the defensive central position last season.
The fact is: Groß and Sabitzer are significantly better than Can when it comes to playing with the ball.
Can’s strengths lie in defensive work and winning the ball. Tackling, aggressive tackling and mentality characterize the midfielder. But recently he often found himself caught up in situations in which he was unable to bring his qualities to bear. “I have the feeling that he is still having a hard time accepting his role as a classic clearer,” said Sedlbauer.
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Müller sees a “structural problem” in Dortmund’s midfield because there is a lack of a purely “defensive six” and points to Edson Alvarez. Dortmund decided not to sign the Mexican the summer before last. Above all, former BVB coach Edin Terzic wanted to strengthen Can’s back.
Does Sahin Can have to sit on the bench?
Which line-up will Sahin choose on Tuesday evening in the new edition of the Champions League final against Real Madrid (from 9 p.m. in the LIVETICKER)?
Despite all the criticism, according to the two podcasters, Can has the best card for the first eleven against the expectedly dominant Royals. “Can has to focus on his strengths and simply clear the defense,” demands Sedlbauer.
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And yet: The situation surrounding the captain remains tricky. Because after Madrid there is a mandatory task waiting for FC Augsburg. And then at the latest, Sahin has to ask himself the question again: How long can I hold on to my captain?
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