Undav: "It's no use just talking, you have to prove it in the field"
June 22, 2026 · Global
Deniz Undav, German national team forward, discusses the challenges of his career and the importance of proving oneself on the pitch. After a brilliant season with 19 goals and 6 assists, he is ready to face the pressure of the 2026 World Cup.
Deniz Undav has had a superb season, scoring 19 goals and providing six assists in the Bundesliga. Despite this, he feels frustrated when he receives criticism. "I have 39 points this season, but every week there are people who talk bad about me: chance hunters and so on. I wonder, how can that be?" he said in an interview. According to him, it is time to be appreciated for the performance that has been shown.
Among fans of the German national team, Undav has earned a reputation as a mainstay striker. "I felt great support from the fans, and that means a lot. It shows that I'm doing something right," said the 29-year-old. He emphasized that just talking is not enough, the most important thing is to show performance on the field, so that he can prove that he deserves to be on the team.
Undav also emphasized that his role is not just about scoring goals, but also about contributing to the game. "I want to show good training performance and perform well in matches, giving a signal that every player must give their best to be successful," he said.
He noted that he was involved in a goal every 36 minutes in the national team, but he also realized that he needed to play more to improve those statistics. "Maintaining these statistics is not an easy thing. I think it would be good if it could be less than 100 minutes per goal," he added.
Although he prefers to play from the start, Undav admits that players' roles can change during the tournament. "As a striker, you want to determine the course of the game, and prefer to do it from the start," he said.
The German national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has many choices of players with different characters. "You can choose what you need," said Undav, who is aware of his physical strength even though it is not very high.
He said that he was very sharp in front of goal and clever at creating space for his teammates. "I am confident in physical duels, both on the ground and in the air. If I use my body well, it is rare for a central defender to be able to beat me in an aerial duel," he explained.
Even so, the main goal is still to score goals. "I have scored goals all my life. Although not in the high leagues, I learned how to play football. As a striker, you must not get caught up in negative thinking. If you think, you will fail," he stressed.
With an unusual career path, Undav has never played in a football academy. He struggled at amateur level before achieving his current success. "If I don't succeed, it won't matter to me. I can watch the World Cup while working. I have training as a mechanical engineer. Of course this is better, but everyone has their own path. The important thing is, I will always support Germany," concluded Undav.