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Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Can Uzun supplied one of the outstanding individual performances of Bundesliga Matchday 8 during Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Hamburger SV. The 20-year-old Turkish international pulled the strings from the No. 10 position, repeatedly exploiting gaps between Hamburg’s defensive lines and ultimately supplying the assist for Younes Ebnoutalib’s decisive third goal.
Another edition of our Get German Football News “Bundesliga Player Check” series examines Uzun’s return to form following a difficult opening to the 2026/27 campaign. The talented youngster has now impressed in consecutive fixtures against Hamburg, earning praise from the same head coach who publicly criticized his performances only weeks earlier.
How has Can Uzun improved at Eintracht Frankfurt?
Those keeping close tabs on Frankfurt over the past two seasons will recall that Uzun’s technical abilities have rarely been in question. The €11m acquisition from Nürnberg began the previous Bundesliga campaign in spectacular fashion. As Get German Football News documented following his record-setting performance against Werder Bremen, Uzun became the youngest Frankfurt player to register three goal contributions in a Bundesliga match.
Six consecutive scoring appearances followed before a muscle injury interrupted his momentum in November.
The subsequent months proved considerably more complicated. Uzun’s performances fluctuated. Accordingly, questions emerged concerning his optimal tactical position. During Albert Riera’s tenure, the youngster sometimes struggled to reproduce his most effective attacking work when deployed away from his preferred central role. A January GGFN tactical assessment had already highlighted his promising contributions as a false nine and the difficulties associated with employing him in deeper or wider positions.
Adi Hütter’s summer return initially offered renewed encouragement. Uzun’s creativity in Frankfurt’s narrow 4-2-2-2 was evident throughout preseason, but so were the defensive concerns associated with his work in the left half-space. As noted in our extensive Frankfurt tactical preview, the advancing fullbacks regularly required additional protection whenever Frankfurt surrendered possession.
Hütter’s subsequent switch to a back-three system offered the Turkish international greater attacking freedom. Uzun scored twice in September’s 3-1 victory over Mainz, but the performance remained something of an exception. Four of his first five Bundesliga starts produced disappointing individual ratings, and the 20-year-old eventually lost his starting place.
Uzun earned praise for his effort and commitment during Frankfurt’s midweek DFB-Pokal victory over Hamburg. In Sunday’s immediate league rematch, his attacking qualities came to the fore again. His penetrative pass to Farès Chaïbi helped initiate the opening goal, while another excellent contribution created a chance that ended in a disallowed finish.
The decisive contribution came in the 69th minute. Uzun recovered possession in midfield, carried the ball forward, drew defenders toward him, and released Ebnoutalib for Frankfurt’s third goal. The statistics provided a more nuanced picture of his performance. Uzun registered 77 touches, completed 84 percent of his 51 attempted passes, and covered 12.02 kilometres in 89 minutes. His three shots produced only 0.20 xG, while his assist generated 0.49 xA.
Only one of six attempted dribbles was officially successful, and he won just 31 percent of his 13 duels. Nevertheless, the passing figures, physical commitment, and tangible attacking contributions reflected a player increasingly capable of influencing matches beyond occasional moments of individual inspiration.
Coach and player speak on improvement
Hütter’s public criticism of Uzun had become a significant talking point in Frankfurt. The Austrian demanded more from his gifted attacking midfielder, particularly in terms of running, defensive commitment, and overall contribution to the team. Uzun himself does not appear especially troubled by his coach’s approach.
“I’m someone who often receives criticism, whether it’s from the fans or my coach,” Uzun told DAZN after Sunday’s match. “I know he just wants to make me better.”
The Turkish international also joked about his ball recovery before Ebnoutalib’s goal.
“I did that well, didn’t I?” Uzun remarked. “When winning the ball ends with a goal like that, it’s perfect.”
Hütter appeared pleased by both the performance and his player’s response.
“It’s always about performance,” the Frankfurt trainer explained. “I want him to become a better player. When he plays like that, the attacking moves come naturally. Then he plays those through balls and wins his challenges.”
The coach also pointed to captain Robin Koch as another player who had responded positively to public criticism. Koch struggled badly during Frankfurt’s 6-0 defeat in Leipzig, but subsequently produced a sequence of improved performances.
Hütter believes Uzun is following a similar trajectory.
“Since then, he’s been running more, working hard for the team, and playing some really fantastic football,” Hütter said. “That’s exactly what we want.”
