Lennart Karl’s Real statement made waves. Now Christoph Freund and Max Eberl are speaking out and explaining FC Bayern’s point of view. Both emphasize that Karl quickly regretted his words.
During the test match in Salzburg, in which Lennart Karl shone with a brace, Christoph Freund commented on the ongoing discussion. Speaking to Servus TV, the sporting director defended the 17-year-old with clear words: „I think that’s Lenny. Anyone who knows Lenny knows that. That’s how he plays soccer! He wears his heart on his sleeve,“ said Freund. „He doesn’t give a shit, we say – even on the pitch. He talks like a 17-year-old lad.“
Freund went on to explain that Karl quickly realized the implications of his statement. „He was of course immediately aware that it was unfortunate. He apologized the next day and we talked about it,“ the sporting director revealed. The attacking player approached the club directly and explained: „I didn’t mean it like that at all.“
Freund also made it clear that Karl feels very much at home at FC Bayern: „He feels extremely comfortable at FC Bayern. He is enjoying this time right now. In his childhood, he once trained with Real Madrid – that was his dream club. He was asked who his dream club was apart from FC Bayern.“
Max Eberl also commented on the debate surrounding the youngster after the game: „A 17-year-old is allowed to make mistakes. He came to us the day after and said: I don’t think I said something really good. For us, the matter is off the table, it was never an issue. He’s performing well on the pitch.“
Karl with a clear message after the goal in Salzburg
During the fan club visit, Karl replied to the question about a second dream club: „FC Bayern is a very big club. It’s a dream to play there. But I definitely want to go to Real Madrid one day. That’s my dream club – but that’s between us.“ It was precisely these words that caused discussion in the fan scene.
There was some harsh criticism of the youngster’s open statement on social media. Karl’s reaction on the pitch was all the more remarkable. After coming on as a half-time substitute, Karl provided the highlights in the 5:0 win against Salzburg. In the 72nd minute, he scored to make it 2:0 after preparatory work from Chávez, and only a little later he set up the 3:0 himself.
He scored the fourth goal himself again, this time with a header after a pass from Díaz. His discreet gesture of celebration after the first goal, a gesture calling for calm, was probably also a reaction to the previous commotion.