Can Uzun's starting place under threat: Adi Hütter spells out his expectations
After Can Uzun sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Köln, Adi Hütter said his route back into the starting line-up runs through training and team play.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Turkey international Can Uzun is in the spotlight following comments from head coach Adi Hütter. The 20-year-old talent spent all 90 minutes on the bench in last week's 1-0 Bundesliga win over Köln, the first time since early April that he has not featured in an official match. Uzun, Frankfurt's most valuable player with a market value of €45 million, could also start on the bench in the weekend clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Adi Hütter, who said he does not plan any radical changes to the squad ahead of the Borussia Dortmund game, had already responded after the Köln match to questions about why he did not bring Can Uzun on. The 56-year-old coach explained that the game demanded a high level of physical intensity and that the conditions were not right to send on the young star.
The Austrian coach set out his expectations of the player in the following words:
"Everyone can do their part to get back into the starting line-up. What is decisive for me is seeing the players who have dropped out really give everything in training. I have spoken to him about this many times before. I am here to support him, but at the same time I want him to understand that football is played in both directions and that it is a team sport."
The experienced coach stressed that Can Uzun's ability is beyond question, but that he must translate that potential onto the pitch consistently. Noting that this expectation also applies to his performances in training, Hütter added: "The sooner Can understands that football is a team game and that he has to put his abilities at the service of that structure, the brighter his career will be. Otherwise, the biggest obstacle to his own potential will be himself."
At 18, Can Uzun was named player of the season in the 2. Bundesliga and moved from 1. FC Nürnberg to Frankfurt for a transfer fee of €13 million. The Turkey international has so far contributed 19 goals and 12 assists in 65 official matches for Frankfurt.