Undav Fit for Stuttgart’s Champions League Opener as Hoeness Backs Captain
VfB Stuttgart captain Deniz Undav is fit to lead the side into its Champions League opener against Viking Stavanger after training without any Achilles tendon problems.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness has also delivered a firm defence of the Germany forward following criticism of his early Bundesliga displays against Bayern Munich and 1. FC Köln. Undav came through Stuttgart’s 4-1 win over Köln without injury and is available for the Matchday 1 tie at the MHPArena.
Hoeness backs Stuttgart skipper
Hoeness rejected suggestions that Undav has started the campaign poorly, stressing that the striker was central to Stuttgart earning a place in Europe’s biggest club competition.
“Deniz Undav is a huge part of the reason we are playing in the Champions League,” Hoeness said. “Everyone needs to understand that.”
The Stuttgart boss accepted that Undav has not yet hit his highest level, but insisted the reaction to his form has been excessive. Hoeness pointed to the captain’s leadership, game intelligence and importance within the team.
“His play has not been as catastrophic as some of the reporting suggests,” he said. “He is our captain and someone who understands and reads the game unbelievably well. He is always valuable to us.”
Who is available and who remains out
- Deniz Undav: Fit after recent Achilles trouble and ready for Viking.
- Luca Jaquez and Nikolas Nartey: Closing in on returns to full team training.
- Dennis Seimen, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Tiago Tomas and Justin Diehl: Still unavailable through injury.
What happens next
Stuttgart open their Champions League league-phase campaign at home against Viking, who arrive in Germany already 19 matches into their domestic season and fully up to match pace.
Hoeness has described the Cannstatt occasion as a major night for supporters and wants Stuttgart to impose a high tempo from the start against the Norwegian visitors. The Bundesliga side will then return to domestic action after their European curtain-raiser.
