Former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo thinks Emre Can has the potential to make the Reds’ defensive midfielder’s position his own for years to come.
The Germany international, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, put in a strong performance in the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in a Europa League quarter-final first leg clash at the Westfalenstadion last night.
With Lucas Leiva currently being out of action with an injury, Can has managed to slot into the Brazilian’s role with aplomb.
And Matteo, who feels Can can play as a centre-back with ease too, backed the 22-year-old to be Liverpool’s defensive midfielder for the long run.
“I think in the position he plays he's got all the attributes”, he said on LFC TV after the game.
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“He reads it well. He can play centre-half, so he knows what he's got to do when he's back there at times.
“He for me, if he can just settle in that position, in front of the two centre halves, he could be there for years.”
Can, whose present contract with Liverpool runs until the summer of 2018, has thus far made 45 appearances in all competitions for the Merseyside giants in the present campaign, scoring twice and providing as many assists.
He also has five senior caps for Germany to his name.
