Headline: Stuttgart Coach Hoeneß Reviews Strikers’ Diverging Paths Ahead of Bremen Clash
VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has shared his insights into the differing fortunes of German strikers Deniz Undav and Niclas Füllkrug as they prepare for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen. While Füllkrug has made headlines with his return to the national team after a stellar start to the season, Stuttgart’s captain Undav continues to search for his first goal in the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign.
The fortunes of the two forwards shifted dramatically following Jürgen Klopp’s announcement of the 24-man Germany squad for the upcoming November international window. Füllkrug, 33, received his first call-up since September 2025 thanks to his impressive tally of nine goals in eight Bundesliga matches for Bremen. In contrast, Undav has been left out once again, despite having netted 19 league goals for Stuttgart last season.
The 30-year-old striker has faced a challenging start to the current season, struggling to recapture the scoring prowess that positioned him among Germany’s top domestic attackers. Despite this, his head coach remains confident in Undav’s contributions, suggesting that his impact has gone unnoticed due to his current goal drought.
Hoeneß defends Undav amid continuing goal drought
Addressing the media at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Hoeneß acknowledged Undav’s primary issue: his inability to find the back of the net.
“What isn’t there are the goals,” Hoeneß stated. “If you look at the match in Istanbul, he could easily have had another two or three assists. I think he’s generally getting back into his rhythm.”
The VfB coach highlighted that Undav’s struggles mirror broader issues the team faces in the attacking third. Stuttgart has created numerous promising chances against opponents like Galatasaray but has consistently failed to score, resulting in disappointing defeats.
“It’s the same with him as it is with us generally,” Hoeneß explained. “That final bit is missing. In his case, it’s the chances that other players aren’t converting. That’s obviously an issue for us.”
Despite his goal deficit, Undav’s performances have sparked further questions, particularly as data reveals he has won only 20 percent of his Bundesliga duels this season. Nevertheless, Hoeneß remains optimistic, believing the striker is progressing positively.
Hoeneß welcomes Füllkrug’s return to Germany setup
In contrast, Füllkrug approaches the upcoming match enjoying a revival in his career. The seasoned forward has rediscovered his scoring abilities with Werder Bremen after challenging tenures at West Ham United and AC Milan. His current form—including nine Bundesliga goals—has propelled Bremen to fifth place, earning him another chance to represent the national team.
“It’s a very positive occurrence for the Bundesliga,” Hoeneß remarked regarding Füllkrug’s recall during Thursday’s pre-match press briefing. “He’s had a rough time. We always knew that he could do it. He’s demonstrating once again that he’s strong with both feet and his head.”
Hoeneß also praised Bremen’s team dynamics, highlighting their recent consistency—they have accumulated 15 points from their first eight Bundesliga matches, suffering just one defeat. Their recent 2-0 win against Hoffenheim further underscores their impressive start to the season.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart has gained nine points and remains behind Bremen in the standings. Hoeneß acknowledges that his team must elevate their performance level to compete effectively against a Bremen side that is currently displaying greater consistency.
As the two teams prepare to face off, the match also presents an intriguing contrast between the two experienced German internationals.
