Dortmund Aiming to Revitalise Their Season in the Champions League, According to Captain Can

Borussia Dortmund are set to leverage the first leg of their Champions League playoff against Sporting on Tuesday as a means to revitalise their season, following a troubling run in the Bundesliga that has seen them slip down the rankings, captain Emre Can (31) remarked during a press conference on Monday.

The team, who were runners-up in last year’s Champions League, suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, which marked the debut of coach Niko Kovac and dropped Dortmund to 11th position in the league.

With just one victory from their last six league encounters, Dortmund now look to the Champions League playoffs to secure a berth in the Round of 16 of the tournament.

“Turning the situation around is no easy feat,” Can said. “It hasn’t all been negative in recent weeks.”

“We understand the importance of winning, but positivity is key. Focusing on the negatives won’t propel you forward.”

“The Champions League presents a different challenge than the Bundesliga,” he added.

“Last year was a positive journey for us, and we believe we can find success again.”

Dortmund, who were defeated 2-0 by Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League final, now find themselves at risk of missing out on next season’s participation in Europe’s elite club competition due to their inconsistent Bundesliga displays.

“Last season, no one believed we could reach the final,” Can commented. “While I prefer not to dwell on that final, we certainly have the potential to succeed.”

Kovac will be missing Ramy Bensebaini due to a muscle injury sustained against Stuttgart; however, he is anticipated to return for the league match this weekend.

“We face a formidable opponent,” Kovac stated. “To be at the top in Portugal is a significant achievement, indicating a high level of skill.”

“This is a team that plays good football, possessing strength from defence to attack. We must be alert to their technical abilities and maintain concentration throughout the entire match.”

“This marks the first leg of two matches. Our aim is to secure a positive result that will give us a strong chance of progressing to the next stage.”