Undav "a few percent more" motivated ahead of Bremen game
VfB Stuttgart's Dennis Undav is going into the clash with his former boyhood club Werder Bremen with plenty of motivation. "I'm always motivated, but against Werder Bremen, of course I'll be a few percent more," the 27-year-old told the portal "Deichstube" ahead of the game between the two teams in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening (18:30/Sky).
According to Undav himself, he was rejected by Bremen as a youngster on the grounds that he was too short and too fat. "That was very, very hard," he said. "As a young boy, everyone had the dream of becoming a footballer. And it felt like my dream was shattered when things didn't go any further at Werder." At the time, he no longer believed he would become a professional footballer. "That's why it's a great joy for me that I made it after all," he added.
Nevertheless, he has "no grudge at all against Werder", as he told the "Deichstube". "I would never say I won't go there again. Anything can happen in soccer. I'm quite relaxed about that. But I feel very comfortable at VfB Stuttgart right now," he continued.
Undav has made an impressive rise. The striker joined Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who were playing in the Belgian second division at the time, from third-division club SV Meppen in 2020. After promotion to the top flight, he scored 25 goals in 33 games the following season before moving to English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. Undav is currently on loan to Stuttgart. He was recently mentioned publicly as a candidate for the German national team.
Stuttgart are considered the big surprise of the season so far. VfB, who were still playing against relegation last season and only saved themselves in the relegation play-offs, have won nine out of twelve games in the Bundesliga so far. Undav has scored seven goals so far.
Undav's motivation against his boyhood club Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening is not just ordinary, as he mentioned, "against Werder Bremen, of course I'll be a few percent more." Werder Bremen might face a stern challenge from VfB Stuttgart, given that Undav's former team is likely to encounter the impressive form of the striker, who has scored seven goals in twelve Bundesliga games this season.
Source: www.dpa.com
