Lothar Matthäus has put Deniz Undav's captaincy at the centre of the debate after saying the forward has lost his ease at VfB Stuttgart. Before the season, coach Sebastian Hoeneß appointed Undav as the new captain, taking over from Atakan Karazor. After seven Bundesliga matchdays, Undav is still waiting for his first goal contribution of the season.
Matthäus's verdict on Undav
Speaking to SPORT1, Matthäus said: "He no longer has any ease. He has lost his smile. Maybe he is thinking too much."
He added: "Maybe they did him no favours with that, because he is too preoccupied with himself" and, on the wider effect of extra duties, "You do have things then that can distract you from what you have actually done well for years."
The point Matthäus is making is not that the armband should be taken away. He argued against that idea and instead suggested the added responsibility might be affecting Undav's performances. It is a fair line to take given the start to the Bundesliga season, where Undav has 0 goals and 0 assists in 7 matches.
Stuttgart's wider start
The numbers in Europe are not the same story. Undav has 1 goal and 2 assists in the Champions League, and he scored twice in the first round of the cup at Hansa Rostock.
Stuttgart's own start has added to the tension around the discussion. They are 15th in the Bundesliga with just 6 points, while their Champions League rank of 6, with 7 points from 3 matches, is far healthier.
That split leaves Hoeneß with a captain who has still contributed in Europe, but has not yet produced a league goal contribution. Stuttgart host a season where the armband and the attack are being judged together, and the next league matchday will bring fresh scrutiny after those seven Bundesliga games without a direct return.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
