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Interview

Interview with Emre Can – Excitement, experience, favourites tag

Emre Can has already made 51 UEFA Champions League appearances but – for all his experience – he still gets that feeling of excitement. Prior to the Champions League opener against Club Brugge, we spoke to the BVB captain.

You reached the final last season, now we're at the very beginning of a new season. Do you set yourself objectives for this competition or do you take it game by game?
"I think that every team that takes part in this competition would like to reach the final. The route to get there is very, very long, but one can still dream. But we shouldn't think so far ahead yet; we will take it game by game. Today is the first opponent, the first difficult challenge and then we will see."

You're up against the reigning Belgian champions. Are you still the favourites?
"I think so. We were in the final of the Champions League last year, have now made a good start to the Bundesliga, have a super team and that's why I think that we're the favourites today. But that doesn't mean anything. We still have to prove it here on the pitch and try to win the match."

You received a bunch of praise for the game against Heidenheim. Can you perform as dominantly in European competition as you did on Friday?
"Our objective is always to dominate the match, to have the ball and to play good football. But you never know how it will turn out. We will certainly try."

You have played 51 Champions League matches in nine years. With all of this experience, to what extent do you still feel excitement and tension??
"It's simply the biggest competition in Europe in club football. The excitement is therefore always huge. The format is slightly different this season. I'm excited to see how it will be, how many points will be sufficient or will not be sufficient in order to progress. And that's why every game is important."
Transcribed by Christina Reinke

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