Deniz Undav delivers blunt assessment of Stuttgart’s Bundesliga struggles

Deniz Undav delivers blunt assessment of Stuttgart’s Bundesliga struggles VfB Stuttgart captain Deniz Undav delivered a remarkably frank assessment of his team’s current Bundesliga form following Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 defeat away to Hamburger SV. The 30-year-old openly questioned Stuttgart’s status as one of Germany’s leading clubs and warned that a difficult season awaits unless Sebastian Hoeneß’s side can rediscover their consistency. “We have to start realizing that we’re not a top team at the moment,” Undav told Sky Germany after the final whistle. “Compared with previous years, we’re lacking a great deal.” Stuttgart suffered their fourth defeat in six Bundesliga matches despite dominating large portions of Saturday’s contest at the Volksparkstadion. A spectacular 88th-minute strike from HSV’s Miro Muheim ultimately condemned the Swabians to another disappointing result. Deniz Undav identifies Stuttgart’s recurring problems The German international noted that Stuttgart had regularly managed to win precisely this type of match in previous seasons. The statistics certainly supported the notion that Stuttgart should have taken something from Hamburg. Hoeneß’s team enjoyed 66 percent possession, outshot their hosts 24-14, and generated 1.69 xG compared with Hamburg’s 1.42. Undav himself accounted for seven of Stuttgart’s attempts. The captain struck the post in the 39th minute and was denied by an excellent Daniel Heuer Fernandes save in the 58th. Strike partner Ermedin Demirović also squandered several promising opportunities. Undav acknowledged that converting such chances had previously been one of Stuttgart’s strengths. “We managed to win games like this in previous years,” Undav explained. “We put those chances away. This year, however, we’re struggling to do that.” Two victories and four defeats leave Stuttgart in 13th place after six Bundesliga matchdays, just one point above the relegation playoff position ahead of Sunday’s fixtures. Stuttgart captain’s own difficulties reflect broader struggles Undav’s comments carry additional weight considering his own problems in front of goal. The 30-year-old finally ended his personal scoring drought during Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Slovan Bratislava . His 29th-minute opener represented his first competitive goal of the season. Undav expressed considerable relief after the match in Slovakia, but Saturday’s performance demonstrated that his Bundesliga goalscoring touch has yet to return. The striker remains without a league goal after six appearances. The situation also reflects some of the broader attacking difficulties Stuttgart have experienced under Hoeneß this season. As Get German Football News’ September tactical assessment highlighted, the coach’s experimentation with different formations and attacking partnerships has not always brought the best out of his most important offensive player. The contrast between Stuttgart’s European and domestic performances is nevertheless striking. Hoeneß’s side have won both of their opening Champions League fixtures, defeating Viking Stavanger and Slovan Bratislava, while struggling to establish any momentum in the Bundesliga. Undav was consequently unwilling to dismiss all the progress his team had recently made. He reminded reporters that Stuttgart had won two of their previous three competitive matches. The captain nevertheless concluded with an unmistakable warning. “We have to work on this to get back up there,” Undav said. “Otherwise, it’s going to be a very tough season.” Stuttgart will have little time to dwell on the defeat. Atlético Madrid visit the MHPArena on Tuesday evening for another Champions League fixture, with Hoeneß’s team hoping to extend their perfect start to the European competition. GGFN  |  Peter Weis