VfB Stuttgart find themselves caught between two contrasting realities this season. In the Champions League, the club sits in strong shape with seven points after three matchdays, including a 3:0 win at Slovan Bratislava and a hard-fought 1:1 draw against Atletico Madrid at the MHPArena, a result that felt like a missed opportunity after Atletico were reduced to ten men. In the Bundesliga, however, the picture is far bleaker. Six points from six games, including a damaging 0:1 defeat at Hamburg, leaves Stuttgart 13th in the table and under mounting pressure.

The frustration runs deep enough that the club has taken unusual steps off the pitch. According to Sport Bild, players have been formally instructed to stop arriving at the training ground in personal luxury cars, with fines threatened for non-compliance. Trainer Sebastian Hoeneß has also tightened his grip on the squad, running longer and more intense sessions, calling out individual errors in front of the full group, and making clear that no starting place is guaranteed.

Captain Deniz Undav has drawn scrutiny too. Pundit Matthias Sammer questioned his suitability as skipper during the Atletico broadcast, though he acknowledged Undav's authenticity and impact within the dressing room. Undav has just one goal in ten appearances this season, with no direct contributions in the league.

Stuttgart host Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday, a fixture that offers a chance to kick-start their domestic campaign against a side that has lost all four of its Bundesliga games so far.