Deniz Undav fought his way from his shape at VfB Stuttgart and shows why the Swabians urgently need him in top shape.
Deniz Undav was angry about himself. In the home game of VfB Stuttgart against FC Augsburgthe match had long since been decided for the hosts at 4: 0. After a Stuttgart ball win, Undav was released deep in the opposing half. The attacker ran with the ball towards the Augsburg Gate and was able to pull off in a central position from 18 meters in a central position. However, only one shot came out with which FCA keeper Finn Dahmen had no problems. It stayed with the 4: 0 – and Undav only sagged together before he hit his hands against each other and roared his frustration out.
Deniz Undav fought itself out of the form low
The balance of the 28-year-old continues to show only three goal participations in the second half of the season: the attacker himself scored two goals, and he prepares another goal. Thin numbers – and yet Undav has fought himself out of his low in the form in the past few weeks, in which he had stuck especially in February and March.
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß keeps big pieces on Deniz undav
In any case, coach Sebastian Hoeneß knows what he has about the striker. “He plays well, he is dangerous. Against St. Pauli (1-0 for VfB) and beforehand Against Heidenheim (0: 1) he presented several 100 % opportunities. If we show ourselves more efficiently, he emerges from these two games with four scorer points, “Hoeneß said before the home game against the FCA about Undav.” He gives our offensive right danger at the moment. It appears between the lines, he is able to play the final pass and come in final situations. “
Second best mileage against Augsburg
The VfB coach builds on Undav again, used it in the recent four Bundesliga games over the entire season. The 28-year-old pays it back with performance. The attacker currently looks fresh and enthusiastic about playing, and he spent 11.36 kilometers against Augsburg. The second best mileage of all players of both teams behind VfB captain Atakan Karazor (11.44).
That was not always the case this season. A few weeks ago, Undav did neither fit nor trained, often pumped on the field and visibly had problems with the high speed. The result of a difficult season. The striker had failed the entire November and December with a muscle injury, after which the international was also missing in parts of the short winter preparation. Then it was needed immediately – and then at some point “the hole” came.
Suddenly no longer “everybody’s darling”
A time when Undav had to take a lot of public criticism. A time when suddenly his private life was more critical. Promotional symptoms that visibly met the harmony. Suddenly no longer “everybody’s darling” gnawed at him.
The instinct footballer Deniz Undav
Undav has faced these problems – and fought back. Now Undav not only runs a lot, he also plays out his “football intelligence”. As already led by Coach Hoeneß, he permanently moves between the lines, making it difficult for the opponent to grip, and makes a lot intuitive. He often demands the ball and forwards it with the first contact, which means that he either generates space for his teammates or directly dangerous situations and scoring opportunities. Especially with offensive colleague Nick Woltemade seems to be blind. The interaction of the two attackers looks like they have been playing together for years.
In general, Undav is important again in the game structure of VfB Stuttgart: his 79 ball contacts against Augsburg were the fourth highest value among the Swabians – a strong number for a striker. His pass rate was 87 percent – also well for an attacker. His overall performance was rounded off with a duel rate of 55 percent.
So there is currently a lack of “only” your own hit for Undav. It is human that it annoys him to go away empty. However, this does not reduce his joy for the teammates. In each of the four Stuttgart goals against the FCA, the 28 -year -old was one of the first congratulators – and one of the warmest.
It fits again between Undav and VfB
So the harmonious tumor feels comfortable again: its shape is right, VfB Stuttgart needs it, the attacker is set. And the “last piece of the puzzle”, his goal, could soon be added, it seems only a matter of time. Maybe Undav will stand up for May 24th – When the Swabians meet Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup final in Berlin. It would be the crowning glory of a strong comeback.
Prize on Sat., 17.5.2025 2:00 p.m., stadium, SWR1 Rhineland-Palatinate
