Lennart Karl proved once again why he has long been more than just a promising talent at FC Bayern. In the 3-1 away win against 1. FC Köln, the 17-year-old not only put the finishing touch to a historic first half of the season in sporting terms with his goal, but also provided a talking point away from the goal. His celebration after the goal was as surprising as it was amusing – and provoked a humorous reaction from Vincent Kompany
After Karl’s icy finish in the 84th minute to make it 3:1, the cameras quickly turned to the youngster. First he made a reassuring gesture in the direction of the fans, but then came a moment that caused astonishment. With a broad grin, Karl looked towards the Bayern bench and demonstratively tapped his wrist. A gesture that left room for interpretation
Did he mean his late substitution in the 67th minute? Was he implying that he only needed a little time to be decisive? Or was it simply an internal joke in the direction of his team-mates? There was no clarity at first – until Vincent Kompany was asked about it after the final whistle
Kompany counters with humor
In the interview on DAZN , the Bayern coach initially reacted cautiously. „I don’t know, I didn’t see it,“ Kompany explained honestly, before starting to smile himself. „He has a lot of mates on the bench. They’re all young players on the bench,“ the Belgian explained. A suggestion that presenter Laura Wontorra promptly picked up on. For her, the interpretation was obvious that Karl wanted to say with the gesture that he only needed a little time to score goals
Kompany picked up the ball – and turned it into a light-hearted joke. „I think maybe he was talking to his mates. They’re all young lads, they might not have a watch yet and have yet to buy one, I don’t know,“ said the Bayern coach with a laugh. A sentence that perfectly matched the relaxed atmosphere after the game and showed how relaxed the climate is at the record champions at the moment
Karl symbolizes Bayern’s new lightness of touch
The scene is more than just a side note. It is emblematic of the current atmosphere at FC Bayern. Under Kompany, the team not only looks focused and dominant, but also relaxed, self-confident and united. Karl embodies this new lightness of touch like no other. Despite his young age, he is composed, makes consistent use of his chances and is not afraid to show his personality
In sporting terms, his goal in Cologne was the next proof of his extraordinary talent. He came into the game as a wild card, only needed a few minutes and put the lid on it. It was the next moment in which Karl put his stamp on a game – an ability that Lothar Matthäus had also publicly emphasized recently
Kompany leaves room for personality
The coach’s handling of the situation is also remarkable. Kompany could have soberly moderated the gesture or even put it into perspective. Instead, he opted for humour and took the edge off the moment. This fits in perfectly with his management style, which combines discipline and structure with trust and humanity
The fact that such scenes are possible shows how much young players like Karl feel accepted and comfortable in the squad. They are allowed to make mistakes, they are allowed to stand out – and they are also allowed to cheer in an unusual way without being looked at askance
Whether Karl really wanted to send a message with his gesture or was simply having fun will probably remain his little secret, but one thing is certain: the goal, the celebration and Kompany’s reaction fit seamlessly into the picture of an FC Bayern that is on an exceptionally good path, both in terms of sport and atmosphere.