Picture: Keystone
In the 58th minute Emre Can decides the Saturday game against Hertha Berlin in favor of BVB. Lucien’s team is a huge step closer to qualifying for the Champions League. After the game, the goal scorer strengthens his coach’s back.
“I’m honest, it wasn’t a culinary delight”, BVB playmaker Julian Brandt admits after the important 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin to the sky journalist two meters away. But what would undoubtedly have been a boring game with spectators is nevertheless an important step towards the Champions League for Lucien Favre’s team.
With the three points, the Swiss coach can again take something out of the line of fire of the German media. The 62-year-old owes this to his “temporary” central defender Emre Can. In the 58th minute, the German international completed the only worth seeing combination of the game with a low shot in the far corner. Then he ensures that the Dortmund team can save themselves without conceding a goal over the finish line.
After the game, the 26-year-old only finds words of praise for his coach. “Sometimes there is complaining, which I cannot understand when you look at the points,” Can defends his coach in an interview with “Sky”. «Okay, we lost two games. But otherwise we always scored. He is a great coach who fits 100 percent with BVB. »
Lothar Matthäus refrains from criticism
Can’s words show that Favre’s support within the team remains high. The players trust the Swiss and even Favre critic Lothar Matthäus, who again did his analysis in the Sky Studio, found (almost) only praising words after the game. The German football legend even gave his blessing for a possible contract extension for the Swiss: «If you are convinced of him in Dortmund, then you should strengthen him and talk about it (about a contract extension, editor’s note). It would have been possible to win the championship this season, of course, but then the season has to be optimal. »
Favres Dortmund is currently playing the second best second half of the club’s history. Eight of the last nine games were won. Nevertheless, Matthäus at least partially adheres to the criticism he expressed against the Swiss coach. «Important games have also been lost. Against Bayern for example. And even in the Champions League in Paris, you might have been able to get something, »says the 59-year-old, indicating that Borussia Dortmund is a club that wants to win the title.
Emre Can is certain, however, that Favre is the right man for the job. “I hope that I can continue to work successfully with him for many years to come,” concluded the goal scorer. Favre’s current contract with BVB expires in the summer of 2021.
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