Striker Undav makes people sit up and take notice
VfB Stuttgart is keen on a runner-up showdown
May 11, 2024, 8:32 a.m
Will VfB Stuttgart crown its super season with second place? Top striker Serhou Guirassy’s 26th goal of the season gives the Swabians a 1-0 win in Augsburg and a record win. Meanwhile, Stuttgart’s strong performances are arousing desire.
After the next milestones in the record season, the high-flyers of VfB Stuttgart looked almost longingly at the table. “It’s a bit of a shame that it’s not enough for more,” said Angelo Stiller with a wink after the 1-0 (0-0) win at FC Augsburg and immediately added: “We’re enjoying it extremely. We deserve it “To be able to stand up there.”
“Up there” was second in the table after the win in Augsburg – and that wasn’t a coincidence: 22 wins in one season for the first time, and the 70-point mark was only broken for the second time after the 2006/07 championship season , plus a secure third place: This Friday evening provided the next highlights of an outstanding season for VfB, which could even be crowned next weekend.
“We didn’t want to give up third place and are now looking a little bit towards second place,” said Deniz Undav on DAZN. Although record champions Bayern Munich can move past VfB again on Sunday (5:30 p.m./DAZN) with a point win against VfL Wolfsburg, it is already clear that next weekend there will be a showdown for the runner-up championship at the end of the season. “That’s what we wanted to achieve, so that we can now play on the last matchday,” said coach Sebastian Hoeneß. The game against Borussia Mönchengladbach should be a fitting finale for VfB – and then? VfB has long since secured qualification for the Champions League, but there are only question marks behind the squad.
Undav would like to stay
Players like top scorer Serhou Guirassy, who scored his 26th goal of the season against Augsburg, or winger Chris Führich are attracting national and international interest. Guirassy is said to be on the list at Borussia Dortmund, among others. The other players also know about the circumstances of the desires. “Of course there are a few candidates for whom it is possible,” said Stiller, “but I think we all want to play in the Champions League with the team next year.” After all, this success, which seemed completely impossible a year ago, was achieved “together,” emphasized the 23-year-old: “Everyone knows what they have at VfB and that’s why I hope that we all stay together.”
A good signal in this direction comes from Undav. The loan player would also like to play for VfB next season and with the club in the Champions League. He said on DAZN that he would “definitely” like to wear the Stuttgart jersey in the future. “I’ve said often enough what I think, what I want. Now we have to see what happens. The ball is in Stuttgart and Brighton’s court,” said the 27-year-old.
Undav is currently only on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season. The currently fourth-best goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 18 goals has a contract there until the summer of 2026. During the week, Undav followed Borussia Dortmund’s entry into the final of the premier class and FC Bayern Munich’s narrow failure against Real Madrid in the semi-finals. “We’ve already imagined how cool it could be if we played in the Champions League. Try to enjoy the games and make sure that we also try to get as far as possible and not be eliminated in the group stage ” said the attacker.