VfB Stuttgart are in the middle of a troubled start to the season, sitting 15th in the Bundesliga with just three points from four games after a 1-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund on matchday four. The result extended a run of inconsistency that has left supporters and the club's own players frustrated, with Stuttgart conceding to a second-half Maximilian Beier strike having created little of note themselves.

At the centre of the concern is Deniz Undav. The striker, who was the most prolific German goalscorer last season with 25 goals, has zero goals and zero assists in the Bundesliga this term. He told Sky after the Dortmund defeat that he feels too deep on the pitch and has had just two chances across four games. Jürgen Klopp left him out of his first Germany squad, citing form and fitness, while Lothar Matthäus suggested the pressure of his record contract, the captaincy, and the fallout from Julian Nagelsmann's public criticism after the World Cup may all be weighing on him. Undav himself was direct: "I must prove again that I belong."

There are other squad concerns too. Angelo Stiller missed time with a knee bruise suffered against Hoffenheim, though Stuttgart confirmed the injury was not serious. Finn Jeltsch has been a rare positive, earning a first senior Germany call-up and drawing praise from Klopp, with his former club Nürnberg set to receive a six-figure bonus if he makes his international debut. A friendly against Greuther Fürth on October 1 offers Stuttgart a chance to rebuild some confidence before competitive action resumes.