Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can set for lengthy spell out with cruciate ligament injury

Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can is expected to be out of action for an extended period after sustaining a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich. The 32-year-old defender was injured in the 41st minute, attempted to continue playing, but was substituted in the 45th minute and was visibly emotional as he left the pitch.

The club confirmed the severity of the injury in a statement on Sunday. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl described the situation as "extremely bitter," emphasizing Can's importance as captain and pledging the club's full support for his recovery. Head coach Niko Kovac had expressed concern immediately after the match, stating the injury "doesn't look good" and would be devastating if confirmed.

This injury adds to a season already disrupted by fitness issues for Can. He missed the first two months with an adductor injury and was sidelined again in February, limiting him to just 16 total appearances and only seven Bundesliga starts this campaign. The German international, who joined Dortmund from Juventus in 2020 and has made 220 appearances for the club, sees his contract expire this summer.

The match itself ended in a 3-2 defeat for Dortmund against Bayern Munich at Westfalenstadion, leaving them 11 points behind the league leaders. Dortmund's next fixture is against Koln on Saturday.

#BorussiaDortmund #EmreCan#BVB#Bundesliga#FCBayern #BVBBayern