😶 Just keep quiet for once: Bundesliga star hits back at critics

It is the unfortunate fate of every striker: If goals are missing for one or two games, public criticism follows immediately. 

Stuttgart's Deniz Undav seems to be quite fed up with this. He emphasized this on Sunday afternoon first with his goal celebration after scoring against Gladbach, and then verbally at the microphone.

Criticism after a weak performance in Rome

During the week in the Europa League, the 29-year-old had a truly bad day in the 0-2 loss in Rome and missed several great chances. Previously, he also did not score in his Bundesliga match for VfB against Union Berlin (1-1).

Accordingly, the criticism in the media grew louder at some points during the week – and this apparently does not sit well with the striker at all.

In the 3-0 victory over Gladbach on Sunday, Undav promptly scored again and celebrated with a clear gesture: His right hand opened and closed as if it were speaking, then he slapped it with his left hand. 

After the final whistle, he expressed his displeasure once more with words at the 'DAZN' microphone. "After two games in which I didn't score, I was the bad striker again – just because I didn't convert a few chances. I wonder: Which player converts every chance?"

"Just keep quiet"

He was undoubtedly referring to the criticism after his weak performance during the week. He always questions himself and is aware, looking back at Rome, that he didn't take the chances he should have.

"Everyone talks a lot. The media too. You can certainly express criticism. If I hadn't scored before and then didn't take the chances, that would have been okay," he said, but then reminded everyone of his strong form since November (twelve goals across competitions). "That after two games, you get annoyed from all sides – from left and right – about being a bad striker, that he can't do anything, and whatever else. That's why I just wanted to say: Just keep quiet and that's it," said the national player's statement after his club's clear victory.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 THOMAS KIENZLE - AFP or licensors