Stuttgart captain Undav responds to Klopp exclusion after Dortmund defeat: vows to regain Germany place

Deniz Undav, captain of VfB Stuttgart, has publicly responded to criticism of his recent performances after being left out of Germany’s national team squad by new head coach Jürgen Klopp. Speaking to Sky after Stuttgart’s 0-1 Bundesliga loss to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Undav acknowledged the scrutiny over his form and fitness, stating, “I speak openly, I don’t mince my words, I say my opinion, negative or positive. And as I’ve said, I’ve often had to prove myself.”
Undav, who was substituted after an hour against Dortmund and is still awaiting his first goal of the season, defended his consistency, noting he recorded 39 goal contributions last season with the same body language now under question. “If you get to know me as a person, you’ll know how to handle it,” he said. Klopp’s decision to exclude the 30-year-old from Germany’s expanded squad reignited debates about Undav’s condition, with the striker admitting he was “briefly disappointed” but vowed to earn his place back. “I thought I had built a buffer with the World Cup and my performances in the national team. Apparently not. I have to prove myself again,” he told *Welt* .
Undav also referenced past struggles under former national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, who rarely used him as more than a substitute despite strong club performances. Nagelsmann once apologized to Undav after a critical remark about his display in a pre-World Cup friendly against Ghana, according to *Tagesspiegel* . Undav expressed hope that Klopp would recognize his qualities if he regains form, saying, “When I hopefully recommend myself again in November, the national coach will know what kind of person I am.”
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