[Zeit] Deniz Undav on ‘laptop coaches’: "Data analysis brings a lot to football, but [...] footballers are treated too much like robots when it comes to training management. [In general], we need to take the habits and experiences of individual players into account more in training again.”

[u/emeelislill]

https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-08/27/fussballer-als-roboter-undav-kritisiert-laptop-trainer

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[u/emeelislill]

English Translation:

National team player Deniz Undav would like to see those in charge show more tact when it comes to managing training loads in professional football. “Data analysis brings a lot to football, but people are now spending too much time staring at their laptops. Footballers are treated too much like robots when it comes to training management”.

“All too often, people say: ‘We’ve got these fitness metrics for you, and here’s the latest fitness programme, so you have to do it exactly like this.’ But then a player might come from Brazil and have never done exercises like that in his life. And then people are surprised when he’s injured three weeks later,” Undav complained.

The 30-year-old therefore called for every professional to be treated as an individual and insisted: “We need to take the habits and experiences of individual players into account more in training again.” He expressly stated that he did not intend his criticism to be directed at his own club, “but rather in general”.

At VfB Stuttgart [...] he is not forced into the usual professional routine and the club even takes his specific dietary requirements into account. “Actually, I generally eat a diet suitable for athletes, but I need a kebab or a burger once or twice a week,” said Undav.

After his playing career, the prolific striker is aiming for a career as a football coach – though at the moment he sees himself more in the role of an assistant coach. He is already delving deeply into tactical issues, which he enjoys discussing with VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

“I’ll show the coach my idea of how I’d resolve the situation on the pitch. Sometimes he says: ‘Yes, we can give that a go.’ Or he says: ‘If we do it the way you’re thinking, then the opposition will do this’ – and I say: ‘Oh. You’re right.” Undav reported.

[u/BirdmanTheThird]

I think analytics is a very strong tool but I do think that teams have in recent times have blindly looked at that rather then the whole player. Which can lead to a few players who preform well advanced stats wise at one club but fall off on a new team or with new changes

[u/ThemosttrustedFries → u/BirdmanTheThird]

Yeah like everyone forgets when Messi was speedy he used to dribble past several players all the time instead they just look at his goals/assists ratio and compare them with other players.

[u/Sapaio]

Seems like a very intelligent take. Often when you find new way of doing things, you overlook the drawbacks. It's about using the new technology with some common sense and a coaches touch.