VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß addresses Deniz Undav’s dip in form

VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß found himself pressed about Deniz Undav’s poor form this season at Friday’s press conference. One of the stars of last season’s sensational second place finish in the Bundesliga table hasn’t scored a goal since mid January. After a very poor performance against Holstein Kiel three games ago, Hoeneß opted to drop Undav from his XI in the last two league fixtures. 

Undav’s spectacular 2023/24 campaign saw him net 18 goals and register 10 assists in 30 league appearances. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man propelled himself to the German national team and compelled Stuttgart to spend €27m to acquire him permanently from the Premier League outfit. This season has produced just seven goals and one assist in 21 league appearances. 

In the absence of Undav, luckily for the Swabians, rising attackers Nick Woltemade and Ermedin Demirovic have been able to pick up the slack. 

“There’s been a lot said about Deniz,” Hoeneß remarked at the press conference. “A lot of what we say about Jamie [Leweling, who has also had a disappointing season] applies to Deniz to a larger extent. He played an incredible season [last year] and it’s only natural that the pressure of expectations mounted.

“He incurred a muscle injury and a short [pre-season] training camp because it took his transfer so long to go through,” Hoeneß continued. “There were a few factors that played a role and that he’s had to deal with. He is dealing with it well. He wants to play. He wants to deliver for us and the national team. He’ll get the time he needs.“

GGFN | Peter Weis