Deniz Undav debuts in the Müller jersey with the title "Classic Model"
Nailing it with a goal and an assist in his first start - perfection. Deniz Undav talk about his "fantastic day" following a 2:2 draw against Holland.
Donning the German national team jersey with Thomas Müller's number 13, Deniz Undav, the 28-year-old VfB Stuttgart striker, celebrated his first international goal in the Amsterdam Arena as a memento. Following Germany's draw against the Netherlands in the Nations League, Undav shared his sentiments, "My wife and daughter will cherish this as a souvenir of my first international goal."
"I'm treading on big shoes," he noted about his new number. "But I believe that I can live up to the expectation," Undav declared with confidence. His debut in the starting eleven, scoring a goal and providing an assist, was a significant milestone in his fourth appearance, having previously come off the bench three times. "I'm thrilled. I've always wanted to score. And I finally did," he beamed, drawing attention to his accomplishment on RTL.
His talkative nature and sense of humor, reminiscent of "Radio Müller," was another unique trait. "I'm chatty, I make people laugh, I just want to keep things light and enjoy life, that's my motto," he chuckled.
Just like Müller, not just with words
However, Undav is not just a charismatic speaker but also a dynamic player whose technical flaws offer him a fresh perspective on the field. In the 38th minute, he scored the equalizer from ten meters by taking a risky, low shot. Exhibit A. Pretty soon, his second act followed. He described it as a "sloppy assist," confessing that he intended to shoot the ball instead. The ball slipped away, finding its way to Joshua Kimmich, who capitalized on the situation to score the 2:1 lead before half-time.
"It was a fantastic day for me," Undav rejoiced after the final whistle, having played for 64 minutes as the sole newcomer, replacing the injured Niclas Füllkrug.
Undav had been eagerly waiting for his breakthrough. His impressive training performances had caught the skipper's eye. Kimmich commended Undav for seizing his opportunity and adapting quickly, despite initial challenges. "I appreciate players who have a strong claim on their spot and back it up when they're given the chance. Undaz certainly did that," Kimmich stated.
The Commission praised Undav's performance, acknowledging his significant contribution to the team during the Nations League match against Holland. Undav expressed his gratitude to The Commission, mentioning their continued support and confidence in his abilities.
