🗣️ Emre Can on Dortmund’s Collapse: “We Were Soft, Not United, and Made Simple Mistakes”
BARCELONA — Following a brutal 4–0 defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can delivered a scathing post-match assessment of his squad’s mentality and performance.
“It’s not about systems. It’s about heart,” Can told DAZN. “We were soft. We weren’t cohesive. We made simple mistakes — and at this level, that’s deadly.”
Barcelona, led by a resurgent front three, exposed Dortmund’s defensive flaws and punished their lack of intensity. The loss leaves Dortmund on the brink of elimination ahead of the second leg in Germany.
❌ Kovac: “We Were Deserved Losers”
Manager Niko Kovac was equally critical in his post-match remarks:
“At this level, you can’t make the kind of errors we did. We lost the ball cheaply and gave them chances on a silver platter. The worst part? How little fight we showed.”
📉 UCL Dream Slipping Away as Domestic Struggles Continue
The loss isn’t just a blow to Dortmund’s Champions League hopes — it adds pressure in a season already unraveling. Currently 8th in the Bundesliga, Dortmund face the real possibility of missing out on next season’s UCL altogether.
🏟️ Second Leg: Too Late for a Comeback?
With Barcelona chasing a treble and now full of confidence, Dortmund must produce a near-miracle to overturn the tie. For Can, the message is now about pride:
“We have to give our fans a performance. They deserve that much.”
