Hoeneß on Undav: “That is the fate of a superstar”

Deniz Undav raised a thumb after VfB Stuttgart’s 4-1 win over 1. FC Köln, but the victory quickly turned attention to what the striker had not done. His teammates Bilal El Khannouss and Ermedin Demirovic supplied the goals that overshadowed his performance, while Undav later had to cool his Achilles tendon.

“That is the fate of a superstar, that after a 4-1 win people ask about Deniz’s performance,” Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß said. He acknowledged that Undav could have played better, adding that the striker had shown much stronger performances for the club many times before.

Hoeneß also said he did not feel Undav was completely free in his head and confirmed that the Achilles tendon was causing him some problems. Against Köln, however, Stuttgart’s overall display made the issue less significant.

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That is the fate of a superstar, that after a 4-1 win people ask about Deniz’s performance.

El Khannouss opened the scoring. Grischa Prömel, Demirovic, who came on as Undav’s attacking replacement, and right-back Josha Vagnoman, with a spectacular volley, also found the net.

The result gave the Swabian Bundesliga club a forceful response to its 5-1 opening defeat at Bayern Munich a week earlier. Undav, who has captained Stuttgart since the start of the season, will have another chance to make a stronger impression on Wednesday when Stuttgart open their Champions League campaign against Norwegian side Viking Stavanger.

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Certainly he can play better, he has shown that very, very often with us.