DORTMUND, Germany — The captain of Borussia Dortmund, Emre Can, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee.
The Bundesliga club announced on Sunday that Can will be sidelined for “several months” following the injury he sustained during the team’s 3-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker on Saturday.
Can attempted to continue playing despite the injury but had to leave the field before halftime, receiving applause from the supportive home crowd as he exited.
“Emre’s injury is incredibly unfortunate, not just for him but for all of us,” said Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl. “He is our captain and always gives his all for the team; he is a vital part of our club. We will fully support Emre in the coming months to ensure his complete recovery.”
Dortmund’s loss allowed Bayern to extend their lead to 11 points at the top of the Bundesliga standings.
This injury also diminishes Can’s chances of representing Germany in the upcoming World Cup this summer. The former player from Liverpool and Juventus has accumulated 48 caps for the national team throughout his career.
This report cites information from The Associated Press.