Manager Nuri Sahin, who has yet to find the formula to stabilise his team’s performances, watched on as Dortmund’s hopes were dented further on Saturday, leaving them in seventh place and now ten points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich.
The game’s direction changed drastically in the 27th minute when Can was sent off for a reckless challenge, forcing Dortmund to play with ten men for over an hour. Mainz capitalised quickly, with Lee Jae-sung opening the scoring in the 36th minute. Dortmund responded soon after through Serhou Guirassy, levelling the score and briefly restoring hope.
However, Mainz struck again just before halftime, with Jonathan Burkardt making it 2-1 in first-half stoppage time. Paul Nebel sealed Dortmund’s fate in the 54th minute, netting a third goal to wrap up Mainz’s victory.
Can’s dismissal has been the subject of intense criticism, with many questioning his discipline and judgement in such a crucial fixture. The result leaves Dortmund outside the European qualification spots, highlighting the challenges Sahin faces as he seeks to turn his team’s fortunes around.
Despite the criticism, Can found an unlikely ally in RB Leipzig’s David Raum, who publicly defended the Dortmund captain on Sky90. “Emre has been through a lot in his career,” Raum commented. “He’s a great guy with a lot of character and very resilient mentally.
“But criticism on social media can be brutal, and he’s had a few games that, unfortunately, haven’t gone his way.”
“It’s no surprise he’s Dortmund’s captain, he’s crucial in the dressing room.” He added, “This kind of thing can happen to any player.”
As Dortmund struggle for consistency, Sahin will need to address Can’s discipline and inspire a more stable performance if they are to climb back into contention for European football.
