Emre Can reveals he was targeted by Hansi Flick to join Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund’s Emre Can has revealed he was a target for Hansi Flick while the trainer was still in charge of Bayern Munich.
In a season filled with surprises so far Borussia Dortmund, defensive midfielder Emre Can has been one of the most positive and rewarding for Die Scwharzgelben since the Bundesliga restart in January. Often seen as a player that was known for being both a warrior in midfield at the best of times and capable of over-aggression and silly mistakes at his worst, the German international has leaned into the former quite strongly since the start of the Rückrunde.
Can has been one of the crucial components in Dortmund’s midfield, helping to both keep up a level of grit at the center of the park and also putting in strong performances defensively whenever he is needed to aid his center backs in his own box. It is a sharp contrast to the type of displays he had become known for, and better reflect the qualities that Dortmund brought him to the Wesfalenstadion for in the first place: a strong midfield presence that exudes intensity.
According to a recent interview with Sport 1 however, Can had caught the eyes of Hansi Flick while he was still in charge of Bayern Munich:
"“Yes, that’s true! We spoke on the phone back then when I was still in Turin. In the end, however, that didn’t happen and I moved to Dortmund.”"
Had things gone Hansi Flick’s way, Can would possibly be contemplating Dortmund’s upcoming clash with Bayern Munich on the other side of the divide. it is lucky For Dortmund that they have Emre Can at their disposal whilst he is in such a rich vein of form, and his presence on the pitch may play a defining role in the final outcome of next weekends top of the table clash. When asked about Dortmund’s title prospects, Can’s answer was measured, but optimistic:
"“It feels good to be at the top. But we also know exactly where we’re coming from. In December, we were still nine points behind. I believe we have the quality to compete for the title. But we have to prove that on the pitch.”"
Next. Julian Brandt opens up about his first steps into the world of football. dark
Borussia Dortmund will indeed have to prove they are capable of winning the title by beating Bayern at the Allianz Arena, a tough task for any top team in the Bundesliga and beyond. Domestically, Bayern’s dominance has become notorious, with the club chasing their 11th straight Meisterschale. A win for Dortmund both on Saturday would set them well on their way towards securing their first Bundesliga trophy since the 2011/12 season.