The evolution of Emre Can: The future

Emre articulates himself in thoughtful, excellent English.

Understandably, his first day at Melwood back in the summer of 2014 was much different. Then, he took in his surroundings with a slight sense of awe, met new faces with a shy politeness and expressed his ambitions with hope rather than conviction.

Now, he is a man at ease, leaning forward in his chair to carefully consider each question during this interview before taking a moment to formulate an answer.

“I was more of a ‘talent’ when I came, now I’m 23. Sometimes I think ‘I’m getting old!’” he laughs, when asked how he has changed in the past three years.

“I’m not the youngest. Now I have more experience and I know what it is to play in England. I think my standing in the team is different to when I came.

“Off the pitch, I’m not the guy who is the loudest. But on the pitch, I speak a lot sometimes in the game. I want to give to the team and help the team. I’m like that.

“It’s very difficult to play against us, if we do our job very well. You can see that in the games if you press high. Everybody is dealing very well with that. We have been together for one-and-a-half years now, and I like that style. I think every player likes that style. I’m really happy here with the club, everything is good.”

Can refuses to label himself a ‘leader’, insisting that such a description – and its suitability for him – is for other people to decide.

But a subject that does prompt self-assessment is that of goalscoring and, in particular, the need to improve on his tally of just seven so far for the Reds.

“I could score more goals. I have that feeling,” Emre acknowledges.

“I scored more than the last two years but, of course, my target is always to score more. But I have the feeling I’m getting better at getting forward into the box sometimes. I have improved in the last few months as well.

“The manager is always telling me when we get a cross ‘Go in the box, go in the box, go in the box’ – and he’s right, you can always score like that. Sometimes I’m too hectic before the goal and around the box, I have to get calmer.

“I have improved but I can of course improve more and more every day. I will improve.”

Improve and adapt. The nuances of playing in midfield have been updated since Can was bewitched by Zidane’s World Cup masterclass 11 years ago.

Systems are flexible, too, with a 3-5-2 formation inspiring Chelsea’s pace-setting campaign in the Premier League and used on occasion by Klopp this term, for example.

“It has been interesting in the last few years,” says Emre. “A lot of players can play more positions now. The 3-5-2 is coming now. It’s nice to have the option that you can play 4-4-2, 4-3-2-1, 3-5-2.

“Modern football is different. When you look back 10 years ago, a striker was a striker, a No.9 in the box. Centre-backs had to play long balls if he was not the best footballer.

“Now, everybody has to play with the ball, everybody has to control the game. For example, strikers come to midfield to get touches and play. Football has changed. It’s always interesting what is coming.”

What feels certain is that Can won’t change.

“I’m Emre Can.

“I’m loud on the pitch.

“And I want to fight for my teammates.”