Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav reflects on ending long goal-scoring drought | OneFootball

Among the players who scored a wonder-goal in last night’s historic Bundesliga Topspiel, VfB Stuttgart attacker Deniz Undav spoke about by far his best effort of the season with Sky Germany. Were it not for Undav, Stuttgart might have never found their way back into the game against Union Berlin. The 28-year-old pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute with Stuttgart trailing 0-2.

Undav’s well documented struggles this season garnered him plenty of negative attention in the German press. The fact that VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß backed him for a big start this weekend counted as a news item in itself. Undav’s response on Saturday evening made for an even better story.

Undav took an intelligent touch just outside penalty area and rifled home a powerful finish on his goal. FCU keeper Frederik Rønnow was left with zero chance. Before the historic half was out, Undav picked up an assist as well, cleverly playing teammate Chris Führich in on the 3-4 at 45+1.

“I just thought I’d have a go,” Undav told Sky when commenting on his goal. “I hit it very well. I love shooting with my standing leg. That’s one of my strengths. I haven’t shown that for a long time, but, thankfully, I did so today.

“True, I haven’t scored for a long time [not since matchday 18 on January 18th],” Undav continued. “Naturally, there are times when one is benched and has to work one’s way back. There were plenty of negative and critical reviews.”

When reflecting on the game itself, Undav noted that all of the lead changes in the opening 45 led to a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

”It was kind of weird on the pitch,” Undav said. “You were happy for a moment, then annoyed, then happy again, then annoyed. Then you think you’re going into halftime 4-3 up, you concede the 4-4 and you’re gutted.”

Notably enough, Undav did not celebrate his goal. Clearly, the weight of all the criticism left him not in the mood to savour the moment. The five-times-capped German international deliberately sought to shift the focus off himself and back to the team in his interview.

“One shouldn’t blame one player when it comes to defeats,” Undav concluded. “but I’m not thinking about myself right now. Naturally, I’m happy I scored a goal.“

GGFN | Peter Weis