Two former stars of the German national team have voiced their strong disapproval of Julian Nagelsmann’s approach to Deniz Undav.
BVB icon Roman Weidenfeller, speaking on the Sky program ‘Triple — der Hagedorn-Fussballtalk’, stated that the national coach did himself «no favors» by initially being assertive and then backtracking on his comments.
A nationwide debate arose around Nagelsmann’s treatment of Undav following the 2-1 victory against Ghana during the March training camp. Despite the VfB Stuttgart striker scoring the late winning goal, the 38-year-old publicly criticized him. Nagelsmann had commented, «If he had been running for 70 minutes, I don’t know if he would have scored it. It was a long run, and after 70 minutes – especially considering the summer heat at 42 degrees – it could be difficult for him.» He also suggested that the goalscorer was putting himself under pressure by demanding a starting spot, adding, «So, it’s okay for me as long as he starts scoring fewer goals. If he can handle that himself, he’s welcome to do it.»
Nagelsmann has since made a complete reversal. In the ‘Bestbesetzung’ talk series on MagentaTV, he apologized for his remarks, admitting, «It was not right and was also too assertive in its sharpness for the public.» He revealed that this realization also stemmed from discussions with his wife, Lena.
«He’s not strengthening himself with this; he’s weakening himself rather,» Weidenfeller remarked. Oliver Kahn, also present, questioned why Nagelsmann chose to reflect publicly and criticized his leadership style. «Of course, it would have been possible to simply call the player and say, ‘I overstepped the mark there’ and explain the situation as you see it, and that’s that,» the former world-class goalkeeper stated, emphasizing, «That would have eventually gotten out anyway. But to make it public now has that kind of touch.»
Most Potent German Forward: Undav Remains a Joker in the DFB Team
On the other hand, Nagelsmann also revealed that he had apologized to Deniz «directly the next day» and that Undav had «thankfully accepted» his apology.
Nevertheless, Nagelsmann continues to view the Stuttgart fan favorite as a «challenger.» Undav has demonstrated that he «can play a good role as a joker,» although Nagelsmann added that this «can always change.»
At VfB Stuttgart, Undav shines as an undisputed regular starter. In 40 appearances this season, he has contributed 23 goals and 13 assists, making him the most goal-productive German attacker. VfB is reportedly working to extend his contract, which currently runs until 2027, with the 29-year-old allegedly pushing for a record salary.
Since the international break, Undav has been awaiting a personal success. He has not been involved in any goals in matches against BVB and HSV. Furthermore, he missed several clear chances and a penalty during the 4-0 victory over Hamburg.
Deniz Undav’s Statistics in the German National Team
| Appearances | 7 |
| Appearances over 90 minutes | 0 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |