Emre Can might not be the most obvious standout in Borussia Dortmund’s roster, but he epitomizes a player who has faced rejection and fought hard to reclaim his place.
The narrative is perhaps clearer with players like Jadon Sancho, who was sidelined at Manchester United in January and returned to Dortmund after a fallout with manager Erik ten Hag. Sancho’s struggle with form and confidence made his loan move back to Dortmund more feasible for United.
Then there’s Ian Maatsen, the left-back deemed surplus at Chelsea and loaned to Dortmund in January. Marcel Sabitzer, whom Bayern Munich was willing to offload to Dortmund last summer, adds to the list.
The story repeats with numerous Dortmund players, fueling their remarkable journey to the Champions League final, confirmed with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at a fervent Parc des Princes, sealing a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Mats Hummels, formerly unwanted at Bayern, continues to excel at 35, scoring the decisive goal in Paris. Niclas Füllkrug, underestimated until his late twenties, netted in the first leg.
For Can, the walls closed in at Juventus in the summer of 2019. Despite a promising debut season after his move from Liverpool, Maurizio Sarri’s arrival altered his fortunes. Omitted from the Champions League squad, Can expressed his frustration.
Moving to Dortmund in January 2020 marked Can’s resurgence. As he celebrated with his teammates, including those deemed surplus elsewhere, the victory in Paris felt like the pinnacle. Yet, Can aims for more as Dortmund heads to Wembley for the final on June 1.
“To lead the team at Wembley in a Champions League final will be an immensely proud moment,” Can stated. “We will give our all for that. We’ll be prepared. Belief has been crucial for our journey. After the second Champions League game, with just one point, nobody believed in us except ourselves. That’s the key.”
Dortmund’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, notably their Bundesliga title loss on the final day of the previous season. Falling short has been a recurring theme, serving as motivation for the squad.
Manager Edin Terzic referenced this history as Dortmund celebrated in Paris, expressing satisfaction in giving back to the fans.
