Commitment and Leadership: Emre Can can be the key in Borussia Dortmund’s push for Champions League qualification

Emre Can made an instant impact for Borussia Dortmund and hasn’t looked back

Looking back a year, the 2020 winter transfer market was primarily associated with the arrival Erling Haaland. 37 goals in his first 38 official games for Borussia Dortmund tell their own story. However, the same transfer window also saw the arrival of another player at Borussia with a less impressive goal tally but with an arguably just as critical contribution to the dynamics of the team – in particular in the crucial defensive capacity in midfield – Emre Can.

At 26, Can has already played for five of the most well-known clubs in Europe: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool and Juventus, and now, Borussia Dortmund. In the space of one year the all-rounder has also already shown that he can be vital to BVB’s future prospects.

The Westfalen based club’s level of satisfaction with the German international can be measured by the number of days that elapsed between two formalities: that of the loan with an obligation to buy being issued by the Italian club and the actual purchase by BVB. The 31st of January and the 18th of February. That’s 18 days. 18 days for Borussia Dortmund to close the permanent deal on the midfielder.

Think back to Can’s debut and goal against Leverkusen – and what a goal it was – a right-footed shot from 30 yards out into the top corner – that level of performance coupled with the versatility of a player who can also play effectively as a centre-back will have certainly made the decision easy for the BVB management.

Can’s return to the Bundesliga has proved to be a great success so far. Until the COVID-19 enforced lockdown that brought the German league to a halt in March 2020, Emre Can was consistently in the starting eleven, both in the league and in the Champions League, and as a central midfielder alongside Witsel in the 3-4-3 formation favoured by then BVB coach Lucien Favre last season.

The results at the time spoke for themselves about Can’s contributions: 5 wins out of 7.  More importantly, these included the striking wins at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the league and the 2-1 home win against PSG in the Champions League. Even if the PSG victory ultimately proved to be of little use after the 2-0 defeat in the return leg.

In Dortmund, Can, who started his career with SV Blau-Gelb Frankfurt, has found the continuity that he never managed to get in terms of minutes and, consequently, in terms of performances. In the Serie A at his former club Juventus, where he struggled to earn his place in the starting eleven and was alternated between midfield and defence.

"In contrast BVB sporting director Michael Zorc has praised the versatile allrounder on several occasions: “Emre Can is a great addition, everyone agrees on that. He’s giving us a lot in particular in defensive midfield and has become a key part of the squad”."

Can missed the season restart in the 4-0 win against Schalke 04 after the unwanted lengthy spring break due to injury in the 19/20 season. However, he ended the season under the best possible auspices. Despite BVB failing to win the Bundesliga due partly to an almost unbeatable Bayern under the new direction of Hansi Flick, the level of satisfaction with Emre Can’s performances is evidenced in him being called up for all of Dortmund’s remaining league matches in season 19/20.