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Emre Can: "Real Madrid Is the Favorite, Everyone Knows That"
Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can has stated that Real Madrid is the "favorite" heading into the Champions League final this coming Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
"Everyone knows that. But we'll do everything we can, step on the gas, and work for each other. Then we'll see what comes of it. To survive there, you have to go in with self-confidence," the midfielder emphasized.
The Turkish-born player described Carlo Ancelotti's side as "a counter-attacking team" with "fast players in attack who don't mind suffering on the field" and noted that "they also defend deeply when necessary and succeed at it."
Can cited the semifinals against Bayern in Munich as an example: "You always had the feeling that Real wasn't in the game and Bayern was dominating. And in the end, it was 2-2. No one knows how, but that's Real Madrid for you. That's why you have to be careful," he told the club's media.
Regarding how his team is approaching the match, the German noted that they've had "a good week of training and a lot of fun, which is also important before a final."
He further explained that "you need a good balance of relaxation and total concentration" because "you have to focus on the game, but you can't get too tense."
"The week before the match is a normal week. We'll prepare well and definitely be ready at Wembley. Although it might not be entirely possible, we want to try to approach the game like any other," he added.
Asked about Dortmund's Champions League journey, Can said the highlight of the season was the match in Eindhoven against PSV, as "the team felt that something was possible in the Champions League this year."
"Then you play a quarter-final against Atlético and think: if you win the game, you're in the semifinals and anything is possible. And that's what happened. We played a great semifinal. Considering how we started (a loss in Paris, a draw against Milan), everyone thought we couldn't do much this year. But the team always believed in it. That's why we are where we are, and we absolutely deserve it," Can concluded.