Emre Can

[Doc_Piptorious]

Has to make do with a place in the Germany U21 squad.

Not a surprise given the quality in depth the Germans have in midfield and in defence.

[Shaggy]

That's why I laughed. Ridiculous state of affairs for them.

[RedReet]

EXCLUSIVE: Emre Can on how Brendan Rodgers turned him into Liverpool's Rolls-Royce

By PAUL JOYCE
PUBLISHED: 21:30, Fri, Mar 20, 2015

He had just delivered another eye-catching performance for Liverpool that shone through the white heat of a derby showdown with Everton, but the fall-out would leave him stumped.

As Brendan Rodgers conducted his post-match briefings, there was praise for Jordon Ibe before Can was described as a “Rolls-Royce at the back”. Cue quizzical looks from the German youngster.

“When I first heard about it, I wondered what it could mean,” he said. “I hadn’t heard the comparison before. We wouldn’t use that expression in Germany.

“Obviously I know a Rolls-Royce is a big luxurious car so I associated it with a positive comment in football terms, even though I didn’t know exactly what it meant.

“I understand it now and it can’t be bad if the manager is saying something like that.”

It speaks volumes for Can’s blossoming fortunes that understanding the myriad of superlatives being flung in his direction has become his greatest difficulty as he settles into life at Anfield and the Premier League.

Tomorrow, Liverpool’s resurgence as top-four contenders will be put to the test when they host Manchester United. Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini will be the latest adversaries seeking to find a route beyond Can, though the 21-year-old is confident he and his team-mates will keep on motoring.

“It will be a difficult game against United because it is a derby but we want the three points,” he said. “In Germany, the equivalent is probably Dortmund-Schalke. I know a bit about the rivalry.

“Do I think we will beat them to a top four place? Definitely.”

When David Moyes was in charge at United, he was informed by one of his leading scouts that Can was “the only player worth signing in Germany”. Can faced United in two one-sided defeats in the Champions League last season while on loan at Bayer Leverkusen from Bayern Munich and says with a smile: “I played very badly against them!”

More pertinent is the fact Moyes departed Old Trafford before he could follow through the recommendation, leaving Liverpool unchallenged in their pursuit of the player they were following extensively.

Yet if Can now stands as a symbol of Anfield’s future, then his early-season struggles following a £10m move were also representative of the club’s recent past. It required an injury to Kolo Toure at Burnley on Boxing Day to prise open a window of opportunity, through which Can has vaulted.

He sees himself in central midfield long-term, though when playing there against the likes of Besiktas and Blackburn recently he wanted too many touches of the ball and too much time. For now, he has offered direction from defence.

“It’s fine for me,” said Can. “The most important thing first of all was breaking into the team, regardless of the position. When I was out of the team my attitude was not to moan or make a big fuss about it, but to keep calm and work hard so that when I got the chance against Burnley I could break into the side.

“Over the long term it is definitely my ambition to play in the midfield. I always have a drive to take me forward offensively, regardless of what position I am playing.

“The fact I am playing in the back three at the moment means there is no player behind me and I have the whole game ahead of me. There is space for me to bring the ball forward and I have the drive to go forward.

“I feel very good at the moment, in good shape, and I feel I have the trust of the manager. I believe I am doing a good job and that is why I am playing, so I am happy.

“It’s a very young team with the likes of Coutinho, Henderson and Markovic. We need to keep improving and carry on what we are doing because then there will be good years ahead.”

The progress made collectively and individually justifies Can’s decision, one which offers an insight into his drive, to leave Bayern in search of regular football.

Adulation as the Bundesliga’s next rising star, where he might have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, has given way to applause from Anfield.

“I realised the Kop was singing my name during one of the games,” he adds. “I was thinking that I’d only been here a couple of months and they were doing that so it made me massively proud.

“I am a completely different player to Ballack and Schweinsteiger. I admire the careers they have had and I hope I will have a career like theirs. But I want to go my own way and build a career for myself and to be known as Emre Can rather than another Ballack or Schweinsteiger.”

Now the penny has dropped, there is nothing holding him back.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/565289/Rolls-Royce-Emre-Can-Liverpool-central-defender

[SB]

Good read that. He's got a big future ahead of him with us.

[RedReet]

Good read that. He's got a big future ahead of him with us.

Depends on how contract talks pan out with Sterling and Henderson. If we cave in to demands, Can could have a case for parity next year or the following, which we may not be able to afford.

That's why IMO, there is no chance the club will and why it's crazy for anybody to suggest that they do (well to a lesser extent Henderson).

[The_weatherman]

Depends on how contract talks pan out with Sterling and Henderson. If we cave in to demands, Can could have a case for parity next year or the following, which we may not be able to afford.

That's why IMO, there is no chance the club will and why it's crazy for anybody to suggest that they do (well to a lesser extent Henderson).

I'm sorry but I really don't agree, these players are not only comparing their wages to each others, it's also to players of others clubs. I think it's worse to lose our best players, then the other ones will start looking around, specially when they get to around 24-25 when they start thinking about their big contract.

[RedReet]

I'm sorry but I really don't agree, these players are not only comparing their wages to each others, it's also to players of others clubs. I think it's worse to lose our best players, then the other ones will start looking around, specially when they get to around 24-25 when they start thinking about their big contract.

Well maybe that's what Sterling should start doing, compare what he's asking for to what 20 year old's at other clubs are getting, or like MrM said, what Coutinho who is older than him recently signed.

[RedReet]

And regardless of how much they sign for now, they are going to be looking for a new deal in two years again, so where does that leave us if we're already paying top dollar, especially if everybody else at the club use these contracts as the benchmark for their own negotiations.

[The_weatherman]

And regardless of how much they sign for now, they are going to be looking for a new deal in two years again, so where does that leave us if we're already paying top dollar, especially if everybody else at the club use these contracts as the benchmark for their own negotiations.

I don't think we should meet Sterlings demands of 150k but Henderson I think deserves a good contract.

[Slinky Skills]

I showed my missus a picture of Can and asked her if she thought he was good looking and her answer was no!

[dom9]

my missus

How has this gone unnoticed?

[Fierce]

Lies make baby jesus cry

[Lee]

I hope she's aware of it.

[Fosterbloke]

How has this gone unnoticed?

My thoughts exactly!

[DannyMan2006]

A key battle for us will be Emre Can matching up to Fellaini. Can struggled initially v Gomis when he dropped off onto Can and this will be a bigger test, though I guess Fellaini at least hasn't as much pace as Gomis.