Coach Hoeneß full of praise
©IMAGO
VfB Stuttgart is “certainly prepared to go to extremes” to sign Deniz Undav (27), who was previously on loan from Brighton, next summer. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß underlined this on Thursday at the press conference before the game against bottom team SV Darmstadt 98 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). The negotiations are said to be ongoing, but recent media reports said that the purchase option should be up to 20 million euros.
“In the end it is a business,” Hoeneß continued, “but emotions and passion are also part of it. That’s why I have great hope that things can continue with him.” Initially injured and in the shadow of Serhou Guirassy (27), Undav is now a top performer at VfB. Together with the Guinean, he forms the second best strike duo in the Bundesliga behind Bayern’s Harry Kane (30) and Leroy Sané (28) with a combined 31 goals.
“It’s impressive how he presents himself in the Bundesliga. He does special things on the pitch, but he is also really cool and positive off the pitch. “He’s not a normal guy in the best sense of the word, he’s a brand for VfB,” said Hoeneß, enthusiastically full of praise. Undav is tied to Brighton until 2026. The loan last summer “proved to be absolutely right,” continued Hoeneß.
With Guirassy, Kostic & Co: VfB Stuttgart’s most expensive purchases
With his 20 scorers in 21 games, Undav has long been the focus of national coach Julian Nagelsmann; a nomination for the DFB team for the tough tests against France (March 23) and the Netherlands (March 26) is virtually certain. Hoeneß does not expect that the international appearances could go to Undav’s head. The attacker “was a bird from the beginning, is now still a bird in the best sense of the word. I don’t see any danger of him starting to fly too much as a bird,” explained the VfB coach with a smile.
VfB Stuttgart still without Nübel – Hoeneß warns about Darmstadt
Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart will have to make do without regular goalkeeper Alexander Nübel for the time being. The 27-year-old will also be out against Darmstadt because of his hip problems, confirmed Hoeneß. The coach continued that he could not give an exact forecast as to how long Nübel would be missing. The goalkeeper may be an option again for the game against 1. FC Köln on February 24th.
Nübel had already missed the third place team last Sunday against Mainz 05 (3:1). Just like against FSV, Fabian Bredlow (28) should also represent him on Saturday. In Darmstadt, VfB is also missing defender Anthony Rouault (22), who was operated on on Monday because of a broken nose.
He expected an “unpleasant game,” said Hoeneß. At least the relegation place is still “absolutely within sight” for the Darmstadt team, who have now won 14 league games, he explained. The Lilies are four points behind in 16th place before matchday 22. “They will do everything they can to make life difficult for us,” the VfB coach is certain. “They don’t give up.”
To home page